LSAT 126 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q26

LR Question 26 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Astronomer: I have asserted that our solar system does not…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The astronomer’s thesis is correct.

REASONING: The astronomer’s opponents have not proved him wrong; therefore he is correct.

ANALYSIS: The astronomer makes a silly flaw. Lack of evidence that he is wrong does not prove him correct.

“I have sent five billion dollars to Pluto. Can you disprove that statement? Then it must be true!” Sadly, this is not a good argument. Not being able to disprove something doesn’t prove that the thing is true.

___________

1. He’s not making an ad hominem statement against his opponents. If you can’t pick find a word the astronomer uses to describe them, then this isn’t the correct answer.
2. CORRECT. This is it. To be true, a statement must be proven correct, not merely “not yet proven false”
3. Actually, the astronomer doesn’t say what explains the cratering. He merely asserts that it was not cosmic debris from the solar system.
4. He doesn’t claim his argument should not be discussed. He implicitly asserts that such discussion is fine: my opponents “should admit that my thesis is correct,” “they have repeatedly failed to demonstrate the falsity of the thesis.”
5. Meteoroid is clear enough. The argument does not depend on precision: he claims that there are not enough meteoroids and “other cosmic debris.”

Recap: The question begins with “Astronomer: I have asserted that our solar system does not”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.