LSAT 128 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q25

RC Question 25 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Passage A most strongly supports which one of the following …

DISCUSSION: The example of the murderer is an example of an input (as established in the previous question).

Passage A argues that humans aren’t capable of adequately considering inputs and how they should affect outcomes. The end of the passage says an omniscient being can do this, but we can’t. So A argues that we should judge based on outputs, not inputs.

So, passage A would likely argue that humans can’t assess whether a murderer’s childhood trauma makes him less blameworthy.

___________

1. Too extreme. Cosmic justice doesn’t argue for complete non-responsibility, only mitigating punishment based on background factors.
2. Passage A specifically argues against discretionary adjustments based on inputs.
3. It doesn’t suggest we should be lenient because of our fallibility. It says we should avoid making judgments on inputs altogether because of our fallibility.
4. CORRECT. This matches the argument that humans lack the necessary knowledge and abilities to fairly assess inputs.
5. It never says background factors never influence behavior, just that we cannot fairly judge them.