LSAT 106 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q15

LR Question 15 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Human beings have cognitive faculties that are…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: We can only be made happy by things that please our superior cognitive faculties.

(Once we find out we do have superior faculties).

REASONING: There isn’t really any reasoning given. The author does point out that no other animals have these superior cognitive faculties.

ANALYSIS: This makes no sense. According to the argument, delicious food won’t please us, once we find out that we’re smarter than other animals.

Or, at least the argument claims that food will only please us if it makes us intellectually happy.

There’s not really any reason given for this claim. So you just need to find a plausible reason to weaken it.

___________

1. The argument never said that all animals are rational. It only said that our capacities are superior to those of all other animals. So presumably we’re still smarter than dolphins, even if they are rational.
2. CORRECT. This contradicts the argument. The author claimed that once you were aware of your intellect, you would never be pleased by other pleasures.
3. This is consistent with the argument. The argument only said we prefer intellectual pleasures once we realized we had superior capacities.
    
   Also, some pop music provides intellectual stimulation.
4. These people could get intellectual stimulation out of their athleticism. Or maybe they’ve never realized their superior cognitive faculties.
5. Gourmet food can provide intellectual stimulation. Or maybe these people never realized they’re cognitively superior.
    
   I’m not sure what athletes have to do anything. The stimulus talks about intellectual superiority, not athletic superiority.