LSAT 114 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In evaluating Yang’s argument it would be…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Helpful to Know

CONCLUSION: Yang concludes that researchers should focus on the function of the brain rather than the structure.

REASONING: Yang claims that focusing on the structure will lead to failure. Flying machines modeled after birds all failed.

ANALYSIS: Yang’s analogy about flying machines is important. It would be very helpful to know if the first non-bird flying machines were made possible by studying the structure of birds.

___________

1. CORRECT. If this were true then Yang’s analogy isn’t much good. Studying the structure of the brain might give us ideas for building an intelligent computer, even if we eventually used a very different structure. 
2. This would be more helpful in evaluating Anders’ argument. It would show us if the brain’s type of thinking matched the proposed thought process for “thinking machines.”
3. This doesn’t matter. The brain is more complex than an aircraft; it might take much longer to build a thinking machine. Or it might not. But it doesn’t affect Yang’s argument.
4. This doesn’t matter. It would only affect how feasible the research proposed by Anders’ would be. This doesn’t affect Yang’s argument that we shouldn’t focus on structure.
5. It’s to be expected that some flying machines not modeled on birds failed. What’s important for Yang is that some worked, unlike flying machines modeled on birds.