LSAT Explanation PT 28, S3, Q26: It is common to respond to

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses a common response to someone who is advising us to change our behavior by pointing out that person's own behavior. The author argues that this response is irrational, as whether someone follows their own advice or not is irrelevant to whether that advice should be followed. The conclusion of the argument is that this response is irrational, and the premise is that the person's own behavior is irrelevant to the validity of their advice.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Parallel Reasoning question, which means we have to find the answer choice that has the most similar reasoning to the argument in the passage.

Let's evaluate each answer choice:

a) This answer choice talks about disarmament and other countries' behavior, but it does not focus on whether the behavior of the person giving the advice is relevant to the validity of the advice. Instead, it focuses on the reciprocity of the argument. This is not a good match for the passage's reasoning.

b) This answer choice focuses on the results of the advice (exercise) rather than the behavior of the person giving the advice. It doesn't address the issue of whether the person's own behavior is relevant to the validity of their advice, so it's not a good match.

c) This answer choice discusses countries accusing each other of human rights violations and using distraction tactics. It doesn't address the issue of whether the behavior of the person giving advice is relevant to the validity of the advice. It focuses on the effectiveness of the tactic rather than the rationality of the response, so it's not a good match.

d) This answer choice is the correct one, as it closely parallels the passage's reasoning. It states that one should not dismiss the philosopher's argument about the nonexistence of matter by pointing out that the philosopher acts as though matter exists, because people's actions have no effect on the strength of their arguments. This matches the passage's conclusion that it is irrational to respond to advice by pointing out the person's own behavior and the premise that the person's own behavior is irrelevant to the validity of their advice.

e) This answer choice talks about condemning a salesperson for lying and the irrationality of condemning someone for something everyone does. It doesn't address the issue of whether the behavior of the person giving advice is relevant to the validity of the advice. It focuses on the universality of the wrong rather than the rationality of the response, so it's not a good match.

In summary, answer choice D is the most similar in its reasoning to the argument in the passage because it focuses on the same issue of whether the behavior of the person giving advice is relevant to the validity of the advice and concludes that it is irrational to dismiss an argument based on the person's own behavior.