LSAT Explanation PT 43, S2, Q9: Activist: As electronic monitoring of employees

LSAT Question Stem

A questionable technique used in the activist's argument is to 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Flaw, specifically focusing on identifying a questionable technique used in the activist's argument.

Let's first summarize and analyze the argument in the passage. The activist discusses the growing practice of electronic monitoring of employees and the employers' justification for it, which is to keep employees honest, efficient, and polite. The activist argues that these justifications should not be accepted because they are self-serving. In this argument, the premise is that the employers' justifications for electronic monitoring are self-serving, and the conclusion is that these justifications should not be taken to justify the invasions of privacy.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do the employers' self-serving motives invalidate the potential benefits of electronic monitoring?"

Now, let's go through the answer choices:

a) The activist is not attacking a different argument; they are addressing the employers' justification for electronic monitoring. This answer choice is incorrect.

b) The activist does not presume that employees are never dishonest, inefficient, or rude. They are questioning the employers' motives for electronic monitoring rather than addressing the justifications themselves. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) The activist does not insist on modern business practices meeting higher moral standards than those accepted in the past. This issue is not addressed in the argument, making this answer choice incorrect.

d) The activist does attack the employers' motives instead of addressing their arguments. This is the correct answer choice, as it identifies the ad hominem (against the person) attack used by the activist, which is a questionable technique.

e) The activist does not make a generalization based on a biased sample. They are attacking the employers on a personal level, not criticizing a sample group. This answer choice is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (d), as the activist uses the questionable technique of attacking the employers' motives instead of addressing their arguments.