LSAT 108 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Faden: Most of our exercise machines …

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

ANALYSIS: Faden says: We know from our customer survey that our exercise machines are still being used after a year.

Greenwall responds: The survey may be unreliable because many customers could have lied.

Faden then says: You can’t prove they lied, so your objection is absurd.

That’s bad reasoning from Faden. Greenwall is offering a possible alternative explanation. He doesn’t need to prove that customers actually lied. An objection doesn’t have to be proven true to raise doubts about evidence. It only has to be a reasonable possibility.

___________

1. This describes Greenwall’s assumption. But the flaw we’re asked about is in Faden’s reasoning.
2. Greenwall never assumes most people are dishonest about their habits. He only says many of these customers could be lying.
3. Faden never says that stronger evidence is less believable.
4. CORRECT. Greenwall doesn’t have to prove customers lied. He only needs to point out a plausible reason the survey may be unreliable. Faden incorrectly demands proof of falsity before allowing any criticism of the evidence.
5. Whether some people quit exercising without being embarrassed is irrelevant. Greenwall’s point is simply that some respondents may have lied, which could distort the survey.