LSAT Explanation PT 43, S3, Q1: The development of new inventions is

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The argument in this passage states that granting patent rights promotes the development of new inventions by providing inventors with a financial incentive. If patent rights were not granted, the argument claims that inventors would have no financial motivation to invest their time and energy into creating new products, and as a result, no new inventions would be developed. The structure of the argument includes a premise (granting patent rights provides financial incentives) and a conclusion (without patent rights, no new inventions will be developed).

To make this concept more accessible, let's consider a simple example: Imagine a baker who creates a unique and delicious cake recipe. If the baker is granted exclusive rights to sell this cake, they have a financial incentive to continue creating new recipes. However, if anyone can copy and sell the baker's recipe, the baker may not be as motivated to invest their time and energy into creating new recipes.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Are there any other incentives or factors that could motivate inventors to develop new inventions, other than financial rewards?"

Now, let's analyze the answer choices for the question, which asks us to identify the assumption on which the argument depends.

a) This answer choice is correct. The argument assumes that financial reward is the only effective incentive for people to develop new inventions. If this assumption is negated (i.e., financial reward is not the only effective incentive), the conclusion that no new inventions would be developed without patent rights is weakened.

b) This answer choice is not relevant to the argument, as the relationship between the inventor's and manufacturer's profits does not impact the conclusion about the importance of patent rights for promoting new inventions.

c) While this answer choice discusses the costs and benefits of obtaining patent rights, it does not address the main conclusion of the argument, which is about the importance of financial incentives for inventors to develop new inventions.

d) This answer choice focuses on the uniqueness of inventions required for granting patent rights, but it does not directly relate to the argument's conclusion about the importance of financial incentives for promoting new inventions.

e) The relationship between the length of patent rights and the costs involved in inventing the product is not directly linked to the financial incentive mentioned in the argument. Therefore, this answer choice does not impact the conclusion.

In summary, the correct answer choice is (a) because it identifies the assumption that financial reward is the only effective incentive for inventors to develop new inventions. This assumption is crucial for the argument's conclusion that without patent rights, no new inventions will be developed.