LSAT Explanation PT 27, S4, Q15: It is often said that beauty

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The author claims that beauty cannot be subjective, which is the conclusion. The reason behind this claim is that the standard of beauty of earlier cultures, as seen in their artistic works, is very similar to our own standard of beauty. This similarity is the premise.

To make this concept more relatable, let's use a simple example. Imagine that people from two different countries both enjoy the same type of food. The author argues that this shared taste must be because there is an objective standard of what tastes good.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question: "Is there any other reason why these two countries might have similar tastes in food?"

The question type of this problem is Weaken, which means we need to find the answer choice that weakens the argument.

a) This answer choice would actually strengthen the argument by suggesting that contemporary artists are not influenced by earlier cultures. However, the term "few" is ambiguous and doesn't provide a strong enough connection.

b) The importance of arts in earlier cultures compared to our culture is out of scope and doesn't affect the argument about the objectivity of beauty.

c) This is the correct answer. It weakens the argument by providing an alternative explanation for the similarity in beauty standards: our own standard of beauty was influenced by earlier cultures. This means that the similarity could be due to this influence rather than an objective standard of beauty.

d) This answer choice is out of scope. The argument is about the similarity in beauty standards, not whether contemporary artistic works are considered beautiful by contemporary standards.

e) The ownership of art in different cultures is unrelated to the argument about whether beauty is objective or subjective.

In conclusion, answer choice C weakens the argument by suggesting that the similarity in beauty standards between earlier cultures and our own could be due to our exposure to earlier works, rather than an objective standard of beauty.