LSAT Explanation PT 26, S3, Q9: Scientific and technological discoveries have considerable

LSAT Question Stem

The argument depends on assuming which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage states that scientific and technological discoveries have considerable effects on the development of any society. This is a premise. It then concludes that predictions of the future condition of societies in which scientific and technological discovery is particularly frequent are particularly untrustworthy. This is the conclusion of the argument.

To help you understand the argument better, let's use a simple example. Imagine a society that frequently invents new transportation methods. Because these inventions have considerable effects on the society's development, it becomes difficult to predict the future condition of this society accurately. The more frequent the inventions, the more untrustworthy the predictions become.

Now let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Can the effects of scientific and technological discoveries on society be accurately predicted?"

The question type of this problem is Necessary Assumption, and we are asked to identify the assumption on which the argument depends.

a) This answer choice talks about harmful consequences of predictions, which is not relevant to the argument. The argument focuses on the trustworthiness of predictions, not their consequences.

b) This answer choice reverses the relationship between society's development and scientific and technological discoveries. The passage states that discoveries affect society's development, not that development requires discoveries.

c) This is the correct answer. The argument assumes that forecasts of scientific and technological discoveries or their effects are not entirely reliable. This assumption connects the premise and conclusion, making the argument valid. If the forecasts were reliable, the conclusion that predictions are untrustworthy would be weakened.

d) This answer choice talks about the benefits of new discoveries for advanced societies, which is not relevant to the argument. The argument is about the trustworthiness of predictions, not the benefits of discoveries.

e) This answer choice discusses the difficulty of predicting discoveries in different societies, which is not relevant to the argument. The argument is about the trustworthiness of predictions of society's future condition, not the difficulty of predicting discoveries.

In conclusion, the correct answer is C, as it identifies the necessary assumption that forecasts of scientific and technological discoveries or their effects are not entirely reliable. This assumption connects the premise and conclusion, making the argument valid.