LSAT Explanation PT 24, S2, Q22: Copernicus's astronomical system is superior to

LSAT Question Stem

The argument most closely conforms to which one of the following principles? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's begin by analyzing the argument in the passage. The passage discusses two astronomical theories: Copernicus's and Ptolemy's. At the time these theories were proposed, all observational evidence was equally consistent with both theories. However, the passage claims that Copernicus's theory was superior because it was simpler. In essence, the argument is structured as follows:

Premise 1: All observational evidence was equally consistent with both Copernicus's and Ptolemy's theories.

Premise 2: Copernicus's theory was simpler than Ptolemy's theory.

Conclusion: Copernicus's theory was superior to Ptolemy's theory.

To make this more relatable, let's use an example. Imagine two people trying to explain why a cup of water is cold. Person A says the water was in the refrigerator, while Person B says the water was in the refrigerator and a magical ice fairy touched it. Both explanations are consistent with the cold water, but Person A's explanation is simpler. Therefore, we would consider Person A's explanation to be superior.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Are there any other factors, besides simplicity, that could determine the superiority of one theory over the other?"

The question type for this problem is Principle. It asks us to identify the principle that the argument most closely conforms to. Let's analyze each answer choice.

a) Simplicity should be the sole deciding factor in choosing among competing scientific theories.

This answer choice is incorrect because it suggests that simplicity should be the only factor considered when choosing between theories. The passage does not make such a strong claim.

b) If one theory is likely to be true, and another competing theory is likely to be false, then the one likely to be true is the superior of the two.

This answer choice is incorrect because the passage does not discuss the likelihood of either theory being true or false. Both theories were equally consistent with the observational evidence at the time.

c) If all observational evidence is consistent with two competing theories, the one that is more intuitively true is the more practical theory to adopt.

This answer choice is incorrect because the passage does not mention anything about the theories being more intuitively true or more practical to adopt. The focus is on simplicity.

d) Other things being equal, the more complex of two competing theories is the inferior theory.

This answer choice is correct because it aligns with the passage's claim that Copernicus's simpler theory was superior to Ptolemy's more complex theory. It also acknowledges that other factors may be considered (other things being equal).

e) Other things being equal, the simpler of two competing theories is the more scientifically important theory.

This answer choice is incorrect because the passage does not discuss scientific importance. The focus is on the superiority of one theory over the other.

Therefore, the correct answer is D.