LSAT Explanation PT 44, S4, Q16: Moralist: Immoral actions are those that

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the moralist's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Necessary Assumption, which means we need to find the assumption that is required for the moralist's argument to be valid.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The moralist defines immoral actions as those that harm other people and then presents a conditional argument:

Premise: Immoral actions eventually harm those who perform them (IA ‚Üí HA, where IA stands for immoral actions and HA stands for harm to the actor).

Conclusion: Those who act immorally do so out of ignorance (IA ‚Üí I, where I stands for ignorance).

To make this argument valid, we need to find an assumption that links the harm to the actor (HA) and ignorance (I).

Now, let's evaluate the answer choices:

a) People ignorant of their actions' consequences cannot be held morally responsible for those consequences.

This answer choice is off-topic because the argument is about the causes of immorality, not responsibility. It doesn't help link HA and I, so it's incorrect.

b) An action harms those who perform it only if it also eventually harms others.

This answer choice doesn't link HA and I, but rather discusses whether moral actions could be harmful to their originators. It doesn't help make the argument valid, so it's incorrect.

c) Only someone with a character defect would knowingly perform actions that eventually harm others.

This answer choice links character defects and harming others, not HA and I. It actually supports a contrary argument, so it's incorrect.

d) Those who, in acting immorally, eventually harm themselves do not intend that harm.

This is the correct answer choice because it links HA and I (lack of intent). If we combine this assumption with the premise and conclusion in the passage, we get the following:

IA ‚Üí HA ‚Üí I

This allows the conclusion in the passage to be properly drawn: IA ‚Üí I.

e) None of those who knowingly harm themselves lack character defects.

A correct reading of this choice yields the assumption: all who knowingly harm themselves have character defects. The argument in the passage, however, assumes that harming oneself and ignorance are linked, not character defects and harming oneself. This answer choice doesn't help make the argument valid, so it's incorrect.