LSAT Explanation PT 25, S2, Q16: Political scientist: The dissemination of political

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The political scientist states that:

1. Political theories can cause change in existing social structures (Premise).

2. Political theories are formulated in universities, leading to convoluted language that alienates many outside academia who are important agents of change (Premise).

3. Therefore, there is a special role for those outside the university context to render political theory into accessible, clear language (Conclusion).

The question type is Necessary Assumption, which asks us to identify an assumption on which the argument depends. Our "Evaluate" question for this argument could be "Are persons within academic settings unable or unwilling to write in a straightforward way?"

Now let's evaluate the answer choices:

a) This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument doesn't assume that persons outside academic settings are the most important agents of change, only that they are important agents of change.

b) This answer choice is also not necessary for the argument. The argument doesn't depend on whether persons within academic settings who formulate political theories attempt to change existing social structures. The argument is about the effect of the academic work, not the motives of those creating the work.

c) This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument doesn't assume that persons outside academic settings are better left out of the initial formulation of political theories.

d) This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument doesn't depend on whether persons outside academic settings stand to gain more from the dissemination of political theories than persons inside.

e) This answer choice is necessary for the argument. If persons within academic settings are not less willing or less able than persons outside to write in a straightforward way, then there wouldn't be a special role for those outside the university context to render political theory into accessible, clear language. The argument assumes that persons within academic settings are less willing or less able than persons outside to write in a straightforward way.

Thus, the correct answer is (E).