LSAT Explanation PT 34, S2, Q7: A certain moral system holds that

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, does the most to reconcile the apparent conflict in the moral system described above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Paradox question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the passage. The moral system described in the passage has two main principles: 1) performing good actions is praiseworthy only when one overcomes a powerful temptation to perform them, and 2) performing good actions out of habit is sometimes praiseworthy. There seems to be a conflict between these two principles because if good actions are praiseworthy only when overcoming temptation, then it's unclear how performing good actions out of habit can be praiseworthy, since habits typically don't involve overcoming temptation.

The question type here is a Paradox question, which asks us to find the answer choice that does the most to reconcile the apparent conflict in the moral system described above.

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) People who perform good actions out of habit have often acquired this habit after years of having resisted temptation.

This answer choice helps to reconcile the conflict by explaining that habitual good actions could have initially involved overcoming temptation. Over time, after resisting temptation, these actions became habits. This means that the moral system can still consider these habitual actions praiseworthy because they were once associated with overcoming temptation. This is the correct answer.

b) Most people face strong moral temptation from time to time but few people have to endure it regularly.

This answer choice doesn't help reconcile the conflict because it doesn't explain how performing good actions out of habit can be praiseworthy. It only provides information about the frequency of moral temptations, which doesn't address the relationship between habits and overcoming temptation.

c) People virtually always perform actions they think are good, regardless of what other people may think.

This answer choice doesn't help reconcile the conflict because it focuses on people's perceptions of their actions, rather than the relationship between habits and overcoming temptation. It doesn't explain how habitual good actions can be praiseworthy according to the moral system.

d) Since it is difficult to tell what is going on in another person's mind, it is often hard to know exactly how strongly a person is tempted.

This answer choice doesn't help reconcile the conflict because it focuses on the difficulty of determining temptation, rather than explaining how habitual good actions can be praiseworthy. It doesn't address the relationship between habits and overcoming temptation according to the moral system.

e) It is far more common for people to perform good actions out of habit than for them to do so against strong temptation.

This answer choice doesn't help reconcile the conflict because it only provides information about the frequency of good actions performed out of habit vs. against temptation. It doesn't explain how habitual good actions can be praiseworthy according to the moral system.

In conclusion, the correct answer is A, as it explains how habitual good actions can be praiseworthy by showing that they often result from a history of overcoming temptation. This reconciles the conflict between the two principles in the moral system.