LSAT Explanation PT 34, S3, Q23: Societies in which value is measured

LSAT Question Stem

The flawed reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel Flaw 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 argument can be broken down as follows:

Premise 1 (P1): Societies in which value is measured primarily in financial terms invariably fragment into isolated social units.

Premise 2 (P2): Money is not the main measure of value in nonindustrial societies.

Conclusion (C): Nonindustrial societies must tend in contrast to be socially unified.

The argument's structure is based on a conditional relationship, where the presence of financial value measurement leads to fragmentation. However, the argument commits a flaw known as "mistaken negation" by concluding that the absence of financial value measurement (in nonindustrial societies) must lead to the opposite of fragmentation, i.e., social unity. In reality, the absence of financial value measurement does not necessarily guarantee social unity, as there could be other factors affecting it.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Are there any other factors that could cause fragmentation or unity in nonindustrial societies?"

The question type is Parallel Flaw (PF), which asks us to identify the answer choice with flawed reasoning most similar to that in the argument above. The correct answer is D. Let's discuss each answer choice in detail.

a) This answer choice contains valid reasoning, as it states that animals of different genera cannot interbreed and then concludes that jackals and wolves may be able to interbreed since they belong to the same genus. The argument's structure does not commit the same mistaken negation flaw as the passage.

b) This answer choice makes an error by concluding that the Sahara Desert must contain more species than Siberia based on the fact that ecosystems closer to the equator usually have more species. The flaw here is assuming that something is always the case just because it is sometimes the case, which is different from the mistaken negation flaw in the passage.

c) This answer choice concludes that all arthropods probably undergo similar maturation processes as insects, based on the fact that insects are arthropods. The reasoning here does not commit the same mistaken negation flaw as the passage.

d) This answer choice is correct as it commits the same mistaken negation flaw as the passage. The argument states that poets frequently convey their thoughts through nonliteral language and then concludes that journalists, who are not poets, must always use language literally. This is similar to the passage's flawed reasoning, where the absence of one condition (being a poet) is assumed to lead to the opposite outcome (always using literal language).

e) This answer choice contains valid reasoning, as it states that technologically sophisticated machines often cause more trouble than simpler devices and then concludes that computers, being more sophisticated than pencils, must tend to be more troublesome. The reasoning here does not commit the same mistaken negation flaw as the passage.

In conclusion, answer choice D is the correct answer because it commits the same mistaken negation flaw as the passage.