LSAT 23 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q25

LR Question 25 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The end of an action is the intended outcome of the…

QUESTION TYPE: Identify the Conclusion

CONCLUSION: Only an end can justify a means.

REASONING: When we do something, it is the end result that we’re aiming for. So the result is the only thing we’re aiming for.

Not every end will justify any means, of course.

ANALYSIS: This is just a complicated ramble about the old saying “the ends justify the means.” The author agrees with this statement, and thinks that often, what you get out of an action justifies the way you do it.

In case you’re not familiar with the expression:

Ends = What we get.

Means = How we get it.

So if you rob a bank to save the lives of your family, some might say the ends justified the means.

___________

1. The author somewhat disagrees. There said there may be a means that can’t be justified by any end. (after the “perhaps”).
2. The author says there are some ends that don’t justify the means (the second sentence).
3. CORRECT. This is end of the final sentence. You can tell it’s the conclusion because it says “it is clear that”.
4. The author only mentions by-products in the first sentence, to say the end is not a by-product. They’re never mentioned again; this answer is just here to confuse you.
5. The author never talked about justifying an outcome. He only talked about justifying the means to achieving an outcome.

Recap: The question begins with “The end of an action is the intended outcome of the”. It is a Identify The Conclusion question. Learn how to master LSAT Identify questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.