LSAT Explanation PT 45, S4, Q17: Art critic: Criticism focuses on two

LSAT Question Stem

The art critic's reasoning is most vulnerable to the criticism that it takes for granted that 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw in the Reasoning question. We are asked to identify the assumption the art critic takes for granted in their argument.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The art critic discusses two issues in criticism: 1) whether an artwork's value is intrinsic to the work, and 2) whether judgments about an artwork's quality are objective or matters of taste. The critic then states that these issues are related because if an artwork's value is not intrinsic, it must be extrinsic, and thus judgments about its quality can only be a matter of taste.

The structure of the argument can be broken down as follows:

- Premise: If an artwork's value is not intrinsic, it must be extrinsic.

- Conclusion: If an artwork's value is extrinsic, judgments about its quality can only be a matter of taste.

The Evaluate question for this argument would be: "Can judgments about extrinsic value be objective?"

Now let's discuss each answer choice:

a) The critic does not take for granted that judgments about the quality of an artwork are always a matter of taste. The critic argues that judgments about quality can only be a matter of taste if the value is extrinsic.

b) The critic does not address whether people sometimes agree about judgments that are only matters of taste. This is not relevant to the argument's main point.

c) This is the correct answer choice. The critic assumes that judgments about extrinsic value cannot be objective. This assumption is necessary for the conclusion that if an artwork's value is extrinsic, judgments about its quality can only be a matter of taste.

d) The critic does not take for granted that judgments about intrinsic value are always objective. The argument focuses on the relationship between extrinsic value and judgments based on taste.

e) The critic does seem to take for granted that an artwork's value is sometimes intrinsic to it, but this is not a flaw in the argument. The argument's main point is to link extrinsic value to judgment based on taste.

In conclusion, the art critic's reasoning is most vulnerable to the criticism that it takes for granted that judgments about extrinsic value cannot be objective (answer choice C).