LSAT 72, Logical Reasoning I, Q5, LSATHacks

LR Question 5 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Jenkins maintains that the movie Firepower was…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Jenkins is wrong. The movie Firepower was intended to provoke antisocial behavior. 

REASONING: The movie did produce antisocial behavior. 

ANALYSIS: The author forgets that we can produce an effect even if we don’t mean to. Plans backfire all the time. 

If you crash your car, usually you don’t intend to. The fact that you did crash has nothing to do with your intentions.

___________

1. The author never said that Jenkins was biased.
   Example of flaw: Jenkins is a Democrat/Republican. Therefore, she is wrong.
2. There’s no correlation in this argument.
   Example of flaw: People who watch Firepower are more likely to be antisocial. Therefore, Firepower causes antisocial behavior.
3. This is a different flaw.
   Example of flaw: People in New York City like Firepower. Therefore, all Americans like Firepower.
4. This is tempting, but it’s describing something different. The Director didn’t act contrary to his expressed interest. Instead, the director’s actions produced results that weren’t what the director intended.
   Example of flaw: Johnson has said he plans to stop smoking. So clearly, Johnson will never smoke again. Willpower always works, right?
5. CORRECT. See the analysis above. The director unfortunately did cause antisocial behavior, but that doesn’t mean she intended to do so.

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