LSAT Explanation PT 36, S3, Q18: It is said that people should

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

This LSAT problem presents an argument and asks us to identify an assumption required by the argument. The question type is a Necessary Assumption question, which means we need to find an answer choice that must be true for the argument to hold.

Let's break down the argument:

Premise: People should accept themselves as they are instead of being dissatisfied with their own abilities.

Conclusion: This is a bad principle if the goal is a society whose citizens are genuinely happy.

The argument is claiming that accepting oneself as they are is not conducive to genuine happiness. Now, let's examine the answer choices and see which one is a necessary assumption for this argument.

a) Those who are willing to change will probably find genuine happiness.

- This answer choice is tempting, but it's not necessary for the argument. The argument is about the principle of accepting oneself as they are, not about the likelihood of finding happiness through change.

b) People who are not dissatisfied with themselves are less likely than others to pursue personal excellence.

- This answer choice connects the idea of dissatisfaction with the pursuit of personal excellence. It implies that dissatisfaction can lead to the pursuit of excellence, which in turn may contribute to genuine happiness. This assumption is necessary for the argument to hold, so this is the correct answer.

c) Personal excellence cannot be acquired by those who lack genuine confidence in their own abilities.

- This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument is about accepting oneself as they are versus pursuing personal excellence, not about the role of confidence in acquiring excellence.

d) People are justified in feeling content with themselves when they have achieved some degree of personal excellence.

- This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument is about the principle of accepting oneself as they are, not about the justification for feeling content.

e) Happiness is not genuine unless it is based on something that is painful to obtain.

- This answer choice is not necessary for the argument. The argument is about the principle of accepting oneself as they are, not about the conditions for genuine happiness.

In conclusion, the necessary assumption for the argument is found in answer choice (b): People who are not dissatisfied with themselves are less likely than others to pursue personal excellence. This assumption connects dissatisfaction with the pursuit of personal excellence and supports the argument that accepting oneself as they are is not conducive to genuine happiness.