• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

LSAT Hacks

The Explanations That Should Have Come With The LSAT

  • Start Here
    • About
  • LSAT Explanations
  • LSAT Courses
  • Tutoring
    • Tutoring
    • Mastery seminars
    • Course
    • Books
  • Blog
  • Login
LSAT Explanations » LSAT Preptest 33 » Reading Comprehension » Passage 4 Analysis

LSAT 33, RC Passage 4, Bentham, LSATHacks

LSAT 33 Explanations

RC Passage 4 Explanation, by LSATHacks

This is an explanation for passage 4 of LSAT preptest 33, the December 2000 LSAT. This passage is a summary of Bentham’s reforms to evidence law.

This section has paragraph summaries and an analysis of the passage, links to the explanations for the questions are below.

Paragraph Summaries

  1. Evidence law in Bentham’s time was similar to ours, but also strange. For example, you couldn’t testify in your own case.
  2. There was a reason for most rules (e.g. Hearsay: banned because you couldn’t cross examine someone not present). But such reasons often led to irrationality (relevant and reliable evidence was often excluded).
  3. Tradition and vested interests prevented reform. Bentham swept the old rules aside, and declared almost everything admissible apart from a few exceptions.
  4. Problem: some evidence is too misleading to admit. Another problem: if some evidence (confessions to priests) shouldn’t be admitted, then why not prevent the admission of other privileged evidence?
  5. Bentham’s non-exclusion principle is the basis of modern evidence law, even if we make more exceptions than he did.

Analysis

This passage gives a brief summary of Bentham’s reforms to evidence law. The state of the law before Bentham is described, Bentham’s reforms and principles are given, and the result is announced: Bentham’s principle underlies modern evidence law.

Previous Question
Table Of Contents
Next Question




Want a free Reading Comp lesson?

Get a free sample of the Reading Comprehension Mastery Seminar. Learn tips for solving RC questions

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

I created LSATHacks, and scored a 177 on the LSAT.

Check out LSATHacks All Access

It's your one stop shop for LSAT prep: 1000s more explanations, and courses for both intro and advanced students. Lifetime access to everything on LSATHacks and anything I add. Plus a consult with me to get you started on the right track.
---------
Socials and Updates: If you have any questions, you can can check out my TikTok videos or email me.

For updates, sign up for my email list. I update whenever I have new posts.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Free LSAT Email Course

My best LSAT tips, straight to your inbox


New! LSATHacks All Access: Get every course on LSATHacks + members only explanations

LSATHacks Pro

Get a higher score with LSATHacks

LSAT Course, LSAT Mastery seminars, and 3,000 extra explanations. All for only $760 $349, satisfaction guaranteed. Sign up here: https://lsathacks.com/all-access/

Testimonials

Your emails are tremendously helpful. - Matt

Thanks for the tips! They were very helpful, and even make you feel like you studied a bit. Great insight and would love more! - Haj

Dear Graeme: MUCH MORE PLEASE!! Your explanations are very clear, and you give equal importance to why answers are WRONG, as well as why THE ANSWER is right!! Very well done. Thank you for all your efforts - Tom

These have been awesome. More please!!! - Caillie

The course was immensely helpful and has eased my nerves a lot. - Lovlean

© Copyright 2023 LSAT Hacks. All Rights Reserved. | FAQ/Legal

Disclaimer: Use of this site requires official LSAT preptests; the explanations are of no use without the preptests. If you do not have the accompanying preptests, you can find them here: LSAT preptests
LSAT is copyright of LSAC. LSAC does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services and has not reviewed this site.
×
Item Added to your Cart!
There are no products
Continue Shopping