LSAT Explanation PT 45, S1, Q23: For each action we perform, we

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Sufficient Assumption, which asks us to find an answer choice that, when added to the premises, guarantees the conclusion to be true.

Let's first break down the argument in the passage:

Premise: For each action we perform, we can know only some of its consequences.

Conclusion: The view that in no situation can we know what action is morally right would be true if an action's being morally right were the same as the action's having the best consequences.

In simpler terms, the argument is saying that since we can't know all the consequences of our actions, if being morally right means having the best consequences, then we can never know for sure if an action is morally right.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does knowing the best consequences require knowing all the consequences of an action?"

Now let's discuss each answer choice:

a) On some occasions we can come to learn that it is morally wrong to perform a certain action.

This answer choice doesn't help us prove the conclusion because it focuses on knowing when an action is morally wrong, rather than morally right.

b) On some occasions we can know what action is morally right.

This answer choice actually undermines the conclusion, as it states that we can sometimes know what action is morally right, while the conclusion argues that we can't know this in any situation.

c) Knowing that an action has the best consequences requires knowing all the consequences of that action.

This is the correct answer choice. It connects the idea of knowing the best consequences (which is required for an action to be morally right) with knowing all the consequences (which we can't do). If we accept this assumption, it guarantees that we can't know if an action is morally right when morally right means having the best consequences.

In formal logic notation, this answer choice can be represented as:

Knowing best consequences -> Knowing all consequences

d) Only the immediate consequences of our actions are relevant in determining whether they are morally right.

This answer choice suggests that we don't need to know all the consequences to determine if an action is morally right, which contradicts the conclusion rather than supporting it.

e) An action may be morally right for one particular person without being morally right for all people.

This answer choice implies that it might be possible to determine if an action is morally right for at least one person, which doesn't help justify the conclusion that we can't know what action is morally right in any situation.