LSAT 117 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q23

LR Question 23 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Columnist: The relief from the drudgery …

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Much modern technology undermines life’s charm and diminishes well-being.

REASONING: It relieves people from physical labor and thus makes them dependent on technology. This dependence causes a loss of self-sufficiency.

ANALYSIS: The key chain is: Technology → Dependence → Loss of self-sufficiency → Lower well-being

But the argument never explains why a loss of self-sufficiency is bad.

To conclude that technology diminishes well-being, the author must assume self-sufficiency contributes positively to well-being.

Otherwise, losing self-sufficiency would not necessarily make people worse off.

___________

1. The argument mentions relief from physical labor, but it never says physical labor itself is essential to a fulfilling life. The conclusion is reached through loss of self-sufficiency, not loss of labor.
2. CORRECT. If self-sufficiency doesn’t contribute to a person’s well-being, then the conclusion that technology diminishes well-being no longer follows.
3. The argument never talks about freedom. Someone can depend on others and still have high well-being. This is much stronger than needed.
4. The author never claims that anything reducing life’s charm is unjustifiable. The conclusion is about overall well-being, not whether technology is justified.
5. This is basically the conclusion itself. Necessary assumptions are usually narrower than the conclusion and help connect the premises to it.