LSAT 37, Logical Reasoning I, Q5

QUESTION TEXT: Although consciousness seems to arise from physical…

QUESTION TYPE: Sufficient Assumption

CONCLUSION: No strictly physical theory can explain consciousness.

REASONING: Consciousness appears to come from physical processes. But physical theories can only explain physical structures and functions.

ANALYSIS: It’s odd that consciousness can’t be explained by physical theories: it seems to come from physical processes.

The answer tells us that consciousness requires a broader explanation than physical theories provide. 

___________

1. This doesn’t tell us that consciousness isn’t a physical phenomenon.
2. CORRECT. This means physical theories are inadequate because they can only explain physical structures and functions. 
3. That doesn’t mean that a physical theory couldn’t explain the functions and structures of consciousness, someday.
4. This weakens our conclusion that physical theories can’t explain consciousness.
5. This doesn’t tell us anything about consciousness. 

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