LSAT 109 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q9

LR Question 9 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: At some point in any discussion of societal justice…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: General principles of justice are never enough to let us guess what social policies will be like within a particular state.

REASONING: People often fall back on the line “this is the way we do things here” when discussing societal justice [i.e. they ignore their stated principles.] An example of differential treatment for the elderly is given.

ANALYSIS: The answer choices are all examples. We can support the argument by finding an example of two societies that have similar principles of justice but different social policies.

Answers A and B deal with machines and forests. Social policies involve people.

Answers C and E involve societies with different principles of justice.

___________

1. Ballot counting machines generally aren’t considered to have large implications for social policy. 
2. This isn’t a matter of social policy. It could be geography. Canada has more forest than Egypt because of climate. 
3. This is interesting, but we’re looking for a place with the same principles but different policies.
4. CORRECT. Same principles and different social policies. Day care is a social policy. 
5. Similar to C. We want a place adhering to the same principles that has different social policies.