LSAT 105 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q13

RC Question 13 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: As expressed in the passage, the author’s attitude toward …

DISCUSSION: The author criticizes the social benefit-rationale for justifying excessive punishments. He also suggests that such punishments feel unjust and that retributivism ensures proportionality.

All this points to the fact that the author does not approve of harsh penalties for minor offenses because they’d be unfair.

___________

1. There’s no approval, not even reluctantly.
2. He’s not just skeptical of their social benefit but concerned with the fairness and justice. So this downplays the critique.
3. He argues that excessive punishments violate our sense of justice. That’s not indifference.
4. Same as C. He does take a stance.
5. CORRECT. While it’s not explicitly stated, paragraph 3 provides support for this.