LR Question 15 Explanation
QUESTION TEXT: Editorial: The threat of harsh punishment for a…
QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption
CONCLUSION: Punishing crime more harshly might cause an increase in our tendency to ignore others’ welfare.
REASONING: Harsh punishment ➞ less guilt ➞ more transgressions
ANALYSIS: The argument has shown that threat of harsh punishment leads to more transgressions. But that might not be the same as the same as ignoring the welfare of others.
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- If legal penalties do determine the morality of an action, this argument is still good. That has nothing to do with ignoring the welfare of others.
- CORRECT. The argument has proven that harsh punishments lead to transgressions. But if transgressions can’t make us ignore the welfare of others then the conclusion is unsupported.
- The argument didn’t talk about being concerned for your own well being.
- The argument is claiming that harsh punishment will actually lead to more transgressions. The argument would be stronger if harsh punishment never deterred anything.
- The argument wouldn’t be hurt if a handful of people are complete psychopaths and never feel shame.
More Resources for Necessary Assumption Questions
- Negations Article: Learn about negations on the LSAT.
- Conditional Reasoning Article: Learn about conditional statements.
- Negations Drill: Practice your negation skills.
- LR Diagrams Guide: Learn how to draw LR diagrams.
- Intro to Conditional Reasoning: Learn conditional reasoning basics.
- Intro Course lesson: This intro course lesson covers Necessary Assumption questions.
- Mastery Seminar lesson: This LR Mastery seminar lesson covers necessary assumption questions.
Help me clarify, doesn’t the argument say that threat reduces guilt and guilt reduces transgressions? Why is your explanation stating otherwise?
The argument says that the tendency to feel guilt or shame reduces a person’s tendency to commit transgressions. So, if that guilt is reduced or absent we increase the number of transgressions (in the absence of other factors). That’s why the explanation states less guilt –> more transgressions