Logical reasoning PrepTest 146 · Section 3 · Question 14

Incorrect. First, it's not a principle—since it's talking about how something has been construed, it must be a viewpoint. Second, the author pivots away from this statement, so she's not attempting to establish it.

Incorrect. While the proliferation of arguments itself might be a phenomenon that the argument tries to explain, the statement in question is itself a competing explanation for that phenomenon.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Argument Structure

Stimulus Summary:
Many mechanists tried to use their philosophy to justify monarchies.
Opposing point Ð The various arguments show mechanism is in tension with democracy
Conclusion Ð It's more likely the arguments were numerous because they didn't work, so mechanism support democracy

Answer Anticipation:
The argument brings up background describing a certain school of philosophy and an argument its proponents tried to make.From there, it pivots to an opposing point ("has been construed") that the author then pivots away from ("But"), and the statement in question is that opposing point. So we should look for an answer saying that it's a conclusion that the author directly attacks/undermines in reaching an opposite conclusion.

Answer Explanation:
The statement in question is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon—a hypothesis meant to explain why so many mechanists argued for monarchy. The author pivots away from this explanation to another one. So this answer correctly describes the statement in question—it's a hypothesis (potential explanation) that the argument challenges.

Key Takeaway:
There are some words on the LSAT that you shouldn't get too hung up on—theory, hypothesis, and phenomenon being among them. There are some subtle differences there, but the LSAT uses them pretty generically so if an answer is good except you don't like one of those words, at least leave that answer until you find something you like better. "Phenomenon" in particular can mean essentially anything that exists.

Incorrect. Since the statement in question is immediately followed by a pivot that starts, "But it is more likely that," it can't be a premise in support of the main point.

Incorrect. The statement is the conclusion/hypothesis of the opposing point, and it comes before a pivot, so it can't be the main point.