LSAT Explanation PT 41, S1, Q15: If all works of art evoke

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

This is a Parallel Reasoning question, which asks us to find the answer choice that has the most similar pattern of reasoning to the argument in the passage.

The passage's reasoning can be diagrammed as follows:

Premise (1): A -> F (All works of art evoke intense feelings)

Premise (2): S -> A (This sculpture is a work of art)

Sub Conclusion: S -> F (This sculpture evokes intense feelings)

BUT:

Premise (3): /F (This sculpture does not evoke intense feelings)

Conclusion: Either /A or /F (Either this sculpture is not a work of art, or not all works of art evoke intense feelings)

Now, let's analyze the answer choices:

a) This answer choice negates the second premise instead of the sub-conclusion. To be parallel, the argument should have observed that the biology lab was not canceled and then concluded that either the biology lab is not a class or not all classes are canceled.

b) The conclusion in this answer choice is in the form of "A and B" instead of "either A or B." Although the rest of the answer choice closely matches the argument in the passage, the conclusion test is not satisfied.

c) This is the correct answer choice. The argument in this choice perfectly matches the argument in the passage. The third premise denies the sub-conclusion, so either the first premise is not true ("not all vitamins are safe in large doses") or the second premise is not ("beta-carotene is not a vitamin").

d) Using the conclusion test, we can quickly eliminate this answer choice, as the conclusion is not in the form of "either A or B."

e) This answer choice can be eliminated using the premise test, as it does not contain two premises (A -> B and BC) that can be combined to produce an additive inference of the type A -> C.

Therefore, the correct answer is (C).