LSAT 119 – Section 3 – Question 07

LSAT 119 - Section 3 - Question 07

June 2005

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT119 S3 Q07	+LR	Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw	A 1% 152 B 2% 151 C 1% 155 D 94% 164 E 1% 153	131 139 147	+Easier	145.195 +SubsectionEasier

Numerous books describe the rules of etiquette. Usually the authors of such books merely codify standards of behavior by classifying various behaviors as polite or rude. However, this suggests that there is a single, objective standard of politeness. Clearly, standards of politeness vary from culture to culture, so it is absurd to label any one set of behaviors as correct and others as incorrect.

Summarize Argument

The speaker concludes that it is absurd to label one set of behaviors as correct and another as incorrect, as is done in etiquette books. Her reasoning is that different cultures have different standards, so no one standard can be objectively correct.

Identify and Describe Flaw

The speaker’s reasoning is flawed because the etiquette books don’t have to be referring to one universal standard—a French book could be intended only to apply to France. It could then make sense for a book to describe certain behaviors as correct, if it’s only referring to one culture.

reaches a conclusion about how people actually behave on the basis of assertions regarding how they ought to behave

This is the cookie-cutter flaw of confusing "is" for "ought." It doesn’t apply here, because the speaker doesn’t say anything about how people ought to behave.

bases a generalization about all books of etiquette on the actions of a few authors

There’s no indication that the speaker is referring to only a few authors.

fails to justify its presumption regarding the influence of rules of etiquette on individual behavior

The speaker makes no presumptions about the influence of rules of etiquette on individual behavior. Her argument is about the existence of standards, not their effects.

overlooks the possibility that authors of etiquette books are purporting to state what is correct behavior for one particular culture only

The speaker’s argument misses this possibility. If a book is only referring to one culture, it’s not implying that there’s a universal standard. Its standards could be objective in the context of that particular culture.

attempts to lend itself credence by unfairly labeling the position of the authors of etiquette books “absurd”

The position of the authors of etiquette books is described as “incorrect,” which is notably less severe than “absurd.”

The Question stem reads: The reasoning in the argument is the most vulnerable to criticism on grounds that the argument… This is a Flaw question.

The stimulus begins by describing how many books describe the rules of etiquette. Usually, etiquette book authors classify behavior standards as polite or rude. We turn to the argument with the context indicator, however. The argument claims that the classifying behavior (as polite or rude) suggests there is a universal, objective standard of politeness. The argument subsequently claims that there are standards of politeness that vary from culture. The argument concludes that it is absurd to label a set of behaviors as correct and another set of behaviors as incorrect.

That is one of those rare Flaw questions that are hard to prephase. On the surface, it doesn't seem completely awful. At the very least, picking out a specifically egregious problem is difficult. Let's turn to the answer choices and see what we find.

Answer Choice (A) is incorrect. We can eliminate (A) because the argument does not make a conclusion on how people actually behave. Additionally, there are no premises that make a claim on how people ought to behave.

Answer Choice (B) is incorrect because the argument does not make a generalization about all books. The stimulus says that authors of etiquette books usually classify behavior as polite or impolite. Additionally, the argument does not conclude that all etiquette books are absurd, merely the ones that label one set of behaviors as correct and another as incorrect. (B) would look better if the argument said something to the effect of: etiquette books are absurd; therefore, all etiquette books are absurd.

Answer Choice (C) is incorrect because the argument does not rely on nor conclude anything about how these etiquette books actually influence behavior.

Correct Answer Choice (D) looks good. If it is true that etiquette books attempt to show what is polite or impolite in their specific cultures, there would be no suggestion of a universal standard of politeness. The fact that other cultures have different standards of politeness wouldn't be a problem for a book on British politeness because the author only suggests that these etiquette guidelines are British.

Answer Choice (E) is incorrect because the argument is not attempting to strengthen itself by labeling the author's position as absurd; the argument is trying to prove that the author's position is absurd.

LSAT 119 – Section 3 – Question 07

LSAT 119 - Section 3 - Question 07

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Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 119 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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