LSAT Explanation PT 28, S3, Q5: Jane: Television programs and movies that

LSAT Question Stem

Maurice's attempted refutation of Jane's argument is vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. Jane presents an argument that television programs and movies depicting violence among teenagers are popular and influential, and therefore, they cause young people to engage in violent behavior. She concludes that these depictions should be prohibited, especially in programs and movies promoted to young audiences. Maurice then attempts to refute Jane's argument by stating that violence among young people predates movies and television, and therefore, her claim is mistaken.

In this argument, Jane's conclusion is that depictions of violence among teenagers should be prohibited. Maurice's attempted refutation is based on the premise that violence among young people predates movies and television.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do movies and television programs depicting violence contribute to an increase in violent behavior among young people?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and answer choices. The question type is a Flaw question, asking us to identify the vulnerability in Maurice's attempted refutation of Jane's argument.

a) Maurice's argument does not presuppose that an unpopular policy cannot possibly achieve its intended purpose. His argument is based on the premise that violence among young people predates movies and television, not on the popularity of any policy.

b) Maurice's argument does not confuse a subjective judgment of private moral permissibility with an objective description of social fact. He is addressing the causal relationship between television and movie depictions of violence and violent behavior, not making a moral judgment.

c) This answer choice correctly identifies the flaw in Maurice's argument. He rules out something as a cause of a current phenomenon solely on the ground that the phenomenon used to occur without that thing. Just because violence among young people predates movies and television does not mean that these media cannot contribute to an increase in violent behavior among young people today.

d) The fact that Maurice cites purported historical facts that cannot possibly be verified is not relevant to the flaw in his argument. We are supposed to analyze the reasoning error, not question the verifiability of the facts.

e) Maurice's argument does not rely on an ambiguity in the term "violence" to justify a claim. He is addressing the causal relationship between television and movie depictions of violence and violent behavior, not using different meanings of the term "violence" to make his point.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. Maurice's attempted refutation of Jane's argument is vulnerable to criticism because it rules out something as a cause of a current phenomenon solely on the ground that the phenomenon used to occur without that thing.