LSAT Explanation PT 45, S1, Q17: In practice the government will have

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Main Conclusion question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses the relationship between an individual's moral rights and the government's view on those rights. It starts by stating that in practice, the government has the final say on what an individual's rights are (premise). However, it argues that this does not necessarily mean the government's view is the correct one (conclusion). The passage also mentions that if someone believes the government's view is always correct, they must also believe that individuals have no moral rights at all.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Main Conclusion question, which means we need to identify the conclusion of the argument from the answer choices provided.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) Individuals have no rights at all unless the government says that they do.

- This answer choice represents a viewpoint that the passage disagrees with. The passage argues that the government's view is not necessarily correct, and this answer choice implies that the government's view is always correct. Therefore, this is not the conclusion of the argument.

b) What government officials and courts say an individual's rights are may not be correct.

- This answer choice accurately captures the conclusion of the argument. The passage states that just because the government has the final say on an individual's rights, it does not mean their view is necessarily correct. This answer choice aligns with that idea, making it the correct answer.

c) Individuals have rights unless the government says that they do not.

- This answer choice contradicts the conclusion of the argument. The passage argues that the government's view is not necessarily correct, while this answer choice suggests that the government's view determines an individual's rights. Therefore, this is not the conclusion of the argument.

d) The police always agree with government officials and the courts about what an individual's rights are.

- This answer choice is not relevant to the conclusion of the argument. The passage focuses on the relationship between an individual's moral rights and the government's view, not the police's agreement with the government.

e) One should always try to uphold one's individual rights against the government's view of what those rights are.

- This answer choice may be inferred from the passage, but it is not the main conclusion. The passage focuses on the idea that the government's view on an individual's rights is not necessarily correct, not on how individuals should act in response to the government's view.

In conclusion, the correct answer to this Main Conclusion question is answer choice B: "What government officials and courts say an individual's rights are may not be correct."