LSAT 157 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q21

LR Question 21 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Orator: Moral excellence can be achieved only by repeatedly…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be True

FACTS:

1. Moral excellence is only achieved by repeatedly overcoming inclinations to do the wrong thing.
2. Overcoming these inclinations is difficult, even for a morally virtuous person.
3. The only way to become a morally virtuous person is through achieving moral excellence.

ANALYSIS: There are a couple things we can deduce from these facts. We know that if someone achieved moral excellence, they must have repeatedly overcome inclinations to do the wrong thing. This also means that all morally virtuous people have repeatedly overcome inclinations to do the wrong thing, because the only way to become a morally virtuous person is through achieving moral excellence.

We know that morally virtuous people have repeatedly overcome the inclinations, but we also know that it remains difficult for them to continue overcoming the inclinations. We also know that if someone can’t overcome the inclinations, then they cannot achieve moral excellence and cannot become a morally virtuous person.

___________

1. This is not true; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. We have been explicitly told that it is difficult for morally virtuous people to overcome the inclination to do the wrong thing.
2. We don’t know this. We know that everyone who is morally virtuous has achieved moral excellence, but that doesn’t mean that most people who’ve achieved moral excellence are morally virtuous. Being morally virtuous is the next step up.
3. This is not true. Anyone who is morally virtuous has to have overcome the inclinations. Someone who doesn’t experience the inclinations can’t overcome them.
4. Being morally virtuous requires moral excellence, but that doesn’t go both ways. Someone could be not morally virtuous but still achieve moral excellence.
5. CORRECT. We know that every morally virtuous person has overcome inclinations, which means they’ve experienced the inclination.

Recap: The question begins with “Orator: Moral excellence can be achieved only by repeatedly”. It is a Must be True question. Learn how to master LSAT MBT questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.