LSAT Explanation PT 37, S2, Q25: In a car accident, air bags

LSAT Question Stem

The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a 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 passage claims that although air bags reduce the risk of serious injury in car accidents, cars without air bags are less likely to be involved in accidents. Based on this, the passage concludes that cars with air bags are no safer than cars without air bags. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise 1: Air bags greatly reduce the risk of serious injury in car accidents.

Premise 2: Cars without air bags are less likely to be involved in accidents than cars with air bags.

Conclusion: Cars with air bags are no safer than cars without air bags.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Is the likelihood of being involved in an accident the only factor that determines the safety of a car?"

Now, let's discuss the question type, which is a Flaw question. This type of question asks us to identify the vulnerability in the argument. The correct answer is D.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) The argument doesn't assume that any car with air bags will probably become involved in an accident. It only claims that cars with air bags are more likely to be involved in accidents compared to cars without air bags. So, this answer choice is incorrect.

b) The argument doesn't deny the possibility that cars without air bags have other safety features that reduce the risk of serious injury. It simply doesn't discuss this possibility. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

c) The argument doesn't overlook the possibility that some accidents involve both cars with air bags and cars without air bags. It acknowledges that both types of cars can be involved in accidents, but it focuses on the likelihood of being involved in an accident as a determinant of safety. So, this answer choice is incorrect.

d) This answer choice correctly points out the vulnerability in the argument. The argument assumes, without providing justification, that the likelihood of an accident's occurring should weigh at least as heavily as the seriousness of any resulting injury in estimates of relative safety. In other words, the argument fails to consider that overall safety might depend on factors other than the likelihood of being involved in an accident, such as the severity of injuries sustained in accidents. This is the correct answer.

e) The argument doesn't take for granted that all accidents would cause air bags to be deployed. It only states that air bags greatly reduce the risk of serious injury in car accidents. This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument's vulnerability and is incorrect.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the argument better and why answer choice D is the correct answer.