LSAT Explanation PT 39, S2, Q14: Activist: Although the environmental bill before

LSAT Question Stem

The activist's argumentation 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 C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The activist presents the following argument:

Premise: The environmental bill is popular with voters.

Premise: The environmental bill will have mainly negative economic consequences if passed.

Premise: Great leaders have the courage to look beyond popularity to what is sound policy.

Conclusion: Legislators ought to do the same by not voting for this bill.

The argument's structure is that the environmental bill's negative economic consequences should cause legislators to reject it, even though it is popular. The activist supports this by stating that great leaders prioritize sound policy over popularity.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Are there any non-economic reasons that could outweigh the negative economic consequences of the bill?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. The question is a Flaw question, asking us to identify the vulnerability in the activist's argumentation.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not presume that most legislators are great leaders. Instead, it suggests that legislators should act like great leaders by prioritizing sound policy over popularity.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not presume that a bill is less likely to pass if it has negative economic consequences. The activist's concern is whether legislators should vote for the bill based on its economic consequences, not its likelihood of passing.

c) This is the correct answer. The activist's argument fails to consider whether there are non-economic reasons for supporting the bill that outweigh the negative economic consequences. By focusing solely on the economic consequences, the argument overlooks other potential benefits of the bill.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not need to specify whether legislators usually consider economic consequences when a bill is before the legislature. The activist's point is that they should consider the negative economic consequences of this specific bill.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not assume that if a bill is popular, it will not be sound economically. The activist's point is that legislators should prioritize sound policy over popularity, not that popular bills are necessarily economically unsound.

In summary, the correct answer is C, as the activist's argument fails to consider whether there are non-economic reasons for supporting the bill that outweigh the negative economic consequences.