LSAT 109 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q21

LR Question 21 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Attacks on an opponent’s character should be avoided…

QUESTION TYPE: Principle – Strengthen

CONCLUSION: We should avoid attacking an opponent’s character during a debate.

REASONING: Character attacks don’t address the opponent’s argument. They just try to question the opponent’s moral right to be in the debate.

ANALYSIS: The right answer is sort of odd. It says we should avoid attacks that don’t address every argument. No attack addresses every argument. Most techniques only address a few arguments.

So technically, the right answer tells us to avoid all techniques of argument, including character attacks. It works, but it’s very broad.

I’d feel uncomfortable picking C if it weren’t for the fact that A, B and E all weaken the argument. D talks about our moral right to debate, which is irrelevant.

___________

1. If that’s the case then we don’t have many options. Maybe we should attack the opponent’s character since we don’t have much else to say. 
2. The fact that such attacks “should not” impress viewers doesn’t mean that they won’t impress viewers. Maybe the attacks would be effective and we should use them…
3. CORRECT. I sort of suspect this is a typo and they meant to write “attacks that do not address any argument.” Regardless, this is the best answer. A, B and E all weaken the argument and D is just irrelevant. 
4. So? The stimulus didn’t claim that our own moral rights needed preserving. It just pointed out that character attacks needlessly attack the moral rights of others.
5. This tells us that we should attack our opponent’s character. We’re trying to conclude the opposite.