LSAT Explanation PT 44, S2, Q21: It is highly likely that Claudette

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the argument above is flawed in that it 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw question, which means we need to identify the flaw in the reasoning of the argument presented in the passage.

Let's summarize and analyze the argument in the passage:

Premise 1: Most classical pianists recognize many of Clara Schumann's works.

Premise 2: The vast majority of non-classical pianists do not recognize Clara Schumann's works.

Premise 3: Claudette recognizes many of Clara Schumann's works.

Conclusion: It is highly likely that Claudette is a classical pianist.

The argument is structured by presenting three premises and drawing a conclusion based on those premises. The conclusion is flawed because it assumes that recognizing Clara Schumann's works is the determining factor in identifying a classical pianist. To better understand this, let's use a simple example: Suppose there are two groups of people, dog owners and non-dog owners. Most dog owners know how to walk a dog, while most non-dog owners do not. If we know that someone knows how to walk a dog, can we conclude that they are highly likely to be a dog owner? Not necessarily, as there may be other factors at play, such as having experience with dogs without being an owner.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "What is the proportion of people who recognize Clara Schumann's works that are classical pianists compared to non-classical pianists?"

Now, let's discuss the answer choices:

a) This answer choice is incorrect because the familiarity with other composers' works does not affect the likelihood of Claudette being a classical pianist. It is not a flaw to ignore this possibility.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not rely on people knowing the composer's name. It is about recognizing the works, not necessarily knowing who composed them.

c) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not make any claims about classical pianists' abilities with other musical instruments. It is irrelevant to the argument's conclusion.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because the term "classical" is not vague when describing a pianist. The argument's flaw does not rely on the vagueness of this term.

e) This is the correct answer choice. The argument's reasoning is flawed because it ignores the possibility that the majority of people who recognize Clara Schumann's works may not be classical pianists. By assuming that most people who recognize Schumann's works are classical pianists, the argument fails to consider other factors that could influence the likelihood of Claudette being a classical pianist.