LSAT 34, Logical Reasoning I, Q22, LSATHacks

LR Question 22 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Sociologist: Some people argue that capital punishment for theft…

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: The critics are wrong to say that capital punishment was not an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism. 

REASONING: The critics point out that fewer people were executed after industrialization. But the critics forget that capitalism preceded industrialization by several centuries.

ANALYSIS: The sociologist makes an important distinction: capitalism predated industrialization. So it’s quite possible that capital punishment was essential even though the use of execution declined over time.

The point of making the distinction was to show that the critics’ evidence was inappropriate. 

___________

1. The sociologist was arguing against the critics. The critics were the ones arguing against this claim. The sociologist’s evidence actually provides some support to the idea that capital punishment was a part of capitalist labor discipline. 
2. Same as A. This is the same answer choice except its worded a bit more strongly (“direct contradiction” instead of “some evidence against”)
3. This goes too far. The sociologist doesn’t say that the claim is definitely right. He just points out that the critics used bad logic in attacking the claim. 
4. The sociologist attacked the critics. He did not support them. E.g. “such a criticism overlooks…”
5. CORRECT. The sociologist uses this fact to show that the critics are making a bad argument. 

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