LSAT Explanation PT 25, S2, Q25: Jack's aunt gave him her will,

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles, if valid, would require Jack to act as he did in the situation described? 

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 first analyze the argument in the passage. Jack faces a dilemma: he promised his aunt to make her will public when she died, which would give all her money to her friend George. However, Jack knows that if he makes the will public, George would squander the money, benefiting neither George nor anyone else. On the other hand, if Jack doesn't make the will public, the money would go to his own mother, who would use it to benefit herself and others, harming no one. Jack decides not to make the will public. The conclusion of the argument is Jack's decision not to make the will public.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Would a valid principle support Jack's decision to not make the will public?"

The question type of this problem is Principle, asking us to identify a principle that, if valid, would require Jack to act as he did in the situation described.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because Jack has no specific duty to his mother in this situation. He would just prefer to give her the money.

b) This answer choice doesn't help because it tells us that violating a promise is impermissible if others would find out about it. We need a principle that would force Jack to violate his promise, not one that tells him he can't violate it.

c) This answer choice is close, but it doesn't fit the situation correctly. We know that giving the money to Jack's mother would benefit some and harm no one. However, we were never told that giving the money to George would harm some and benefit no one. We were only told that giving the money to George would benefit no one. Wasting money isn't necessarily equivalent to harming someone.

d) This is the correct answer. Jack is faced with alternatives (give the money to George or give it to his mother). The option to give the money to his mother benefits the greatest number of people since it would benefit her and others, while the option to give the money to George benefits no one. This principle requires Jack to choose the option of giving the money to his mother.

e) This answer choice is tempting because it makes Jack's promise to his aunt seem nonbinding. However, it doesn't force Jack to choose the option of giving the money to his mother. It makes that option possible but doesn't require him to act that way, as the question stem stipulates.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D, as it provides a principle that requires Jack to act as he did in the situation described, choosing the alternative that benefits the greatest number of people.