LSAT 144 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Politician: Union leaders argue that increases in…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Legislators shouldn’t listen to union leaders.

REASONING: Union leaders have a reason to argue against multinational control of corporations.

ANALYSIS: This argument makes an ad hominem flaw. We should attack someone’s argument, not their personality.

Most people have vested interests in the arguments they make. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong.

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1. Tempting, but not quite. The author doesn’t say that everything union members say is wrong. They are only criticizing union members in this instance due to possible bias.
   Example of flaw: John says that the sky is blue. But John is a union member, so he must be wrong.
2. Also tempting. But this isn’t the same flaw. The author said union members are wrong because they have a vested interest. Having a vested interest is not the same thing as having a discernible motivation.
   Example of flaw: John is arguing for puppy protection laws, because John wants to help puppies. Since I can discern John’s motives, he must be wrong.
3. CORRECT. This matches. The unions have a vested interest in wages, so that might affect their argument. But the author should have attacked the argument itself, not the union leaders.
4. The author didn’t say this.
   Example of flaw: The union leaders gave a piece of evidence. Therefore, that must be all of their evidence.
5. The author didn’t say this.
   Example of flaw: Some union leaders argue against multinational control. So every single union leader on planet Earth must agree.