LSAT 107 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q10

LR Question 10 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The only motives that influence all human actions…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Self interest is the main influence of our actions.

REASONING: Self-interest is the only motive that influences all of our actions.

ANALYSIS: This has shown that self-interest is involved in all of our actions. But that doesn’t mean it is the most significant factor in all of our actions.

We generally have multiple reasons for everything we do. Other reasons (kindness, duty, etc.) could be more important in each case, even if self-interest is always a factor.

___________

1. The stimulus never mentioned why self-interest is present in all of our actions.
2. CORRECT. Self-interest has an influence on everything but that doesn’t mean it’s the dominant influence on everything.
3. The argument hasn’t specified any particular time. It seems to be talking about all times.
4. The argument didn’t prove that self-influence is the paramount influence (that’s the unproven conclusion.) And the argument didn’t claim that self-interest is the only influence. It just claimed it’s the chief influence.
5. This would be if the argument had offered proof that self-influence was not an influence on all human action. The argument didn’t do anything like that.

Recap: The question begins with “The only motives that influence all human actions”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.