LSAT 126 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q15

LR Question 15 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Technological innovation rarely serves the interests of society…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Technological innovation rarely serves the interests of society as a whole.

REASONING: People who invent technology are almost always motivated by personal gain and not societal benefit.

ANALYSIS: This is not very good reasoning. An inventor may be motivated only by profit, but that doesn’t mean their invention won’t benefit society. The invention probably wouldn’t make much money if it weren’t beneficial to society.

___________

1. The premise is plausible. It’s very, very, very rare that an LSAC question will contain an untrue premise.
2. A product could be commercially viable without being commercially motivated. This answer choice might have been correct if it said “commercially motivated.”
3. This doesn’t affect the argument either way. Whether or not the inventors gain money, the stimulus argues that the motives themselves will prevent society from benefiting.
4. CORRECT. This is it. The argument neglects to consider that our actions can produce effects we didn’t intend or care about.
5. The argument is not making a claim about what inventors should or should not do.

Recap: The question begins with “Technological innovation rarely serves the interests of society”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn how to master LSAT Flaw questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.