LSAT 148 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q2

RC Question 2 Explanation

DISCUSSION: If you read the full line, and line 9, you’ll see that the purpose of the question is to show how utilitarianism has intuitive appeal, but also strange consequences.

___________

1. This wasn’t it. Lines 9-11 are the lines which point out an implausible feature (“executing the innocent to please a mob”)
2. This didn’t happen. If Utilitarianism were internally contradictory we surely wouldn’t still be talking about it. Internal contradiction is a massive blow to any theory: it means the author’s version of their theory has internal flaws. There’s no need of external criticism; the theory is flawed on its own.
3. The author argues against utilitarianism, so this answer is implausible.
4. CORRECT. Yes. The words “At first sight, utilitarianism seems plausible…..” show the author thinks utilitarianism has intuitive appeal.
5. The main point of the passage isn’t utilitarianism. The author is only using it as a way to explain where Rawls’ ideas come from.