LSAT 127 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q22

LR Question 22 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Only a minority of those who engage in political action…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Some people who have a sense of social justice do not engage in political action.

REASONING: Some people who participate in political action do not have a sense of social justice.

ANALYSIS: This argument incorrectly reverses the premise. It is like saying: “Only some humans are politicians. Therefore, some politicians are not human.”

The correct answer, A, talks about which people fall into which category. All of the wrong answers talk about what should be done, or attitudes.

___________

1. CORRECT. The premise gives us info about scholars. The conclusion then improperly makes a statement about people who wish to win prizes. We have no info about them. As in the stimulus, the argument improperly makes a conclusion about one of the elements in a “some” statement (a most statement, in this case).
2. This talks about what voters deserve. It’s not a good argument, but it’s a different error.
3. This says that all corporations do not have a concern for the environment, on the basis that some corporations do not have such a concern. It’s a bad argument, but a different error (taking some to mean all).
4. This is a bad conclusion, but a different error. We simply don’t have any information about what should or should not be done.
5. Another bad argument: we don’t know how likely companies are to make a profit. But it’s a different error.

Recap: The question begins with “Only a minority of those who engage in political action”. It is a Flawed Parallel Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flawed Parallel questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.