PrepTest 154, Section 1, Question 12
Art history professor: Costa criticizes my theories about(63 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(11 more words not shown)
- AThe argument confuses(17 more words not shown)
- BThe argument overlooks(12 more words not shown)
- CThe argument rejects(27 more words not shown)
- DThe argument presumes,(21 more words not shown)
- EThe argument presumes,(17 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Costa might be inconsistent. That doesn't make his criticism wrong.
The subject sounds specialized, but we don't need expertise in Austrian painting or French opera to follow this response. Costa objects to assigning art to period styles because he says there are no features shared by all and only the works in a period.
Is that a good reason to reject the categories? We could ask what makes works belong to a style and whether the shared features Costa demands are really necessary. We'd need to address those questions to assess his criticism.
The professor instead points out that Costa's own current theories depend on similar assignments. That may expose a problem for Costa: his objection could undermine his own work too. But both people's theories could face the same legitimate criticism. Pointing out Costa's inconsistency doesn't defend the professor's categories.
What we’re looking for
So the flaw is in the response to the critic. The professor dismisses the reasoning because it can also be used against the person offering it. We want an answer that says that clearly, without getting distracted by the names of the artistic periods.
Working the answers
- A
The professor doesn't identify a requirement for discounting someone's reasoning and then treat meeting that requirement as enough. The stated reason for dismissal is that Costa's criticism also applies to his own theories. A general description about mixing up requirements doesn't identify that particular mistake.
- B
This might initially sound relevant because Costa appears to hold conflicting positions. But notice “at different times.” People can change their minds, and the passage isn't denying that. It specifically describes Costa's current theories as depending on the very kind of assignment he criticizes.
The problem remains even if those views are held at the same time: inconsistency doesn't make the criticism false. B's possibility of changing views over time doesn't capture that problem.
- CCorrect
The professor rejects Costa's criticism because that criticism also threatens Costa's own theories. Yet Costa could be right about the problem and fail to recognize its consequences for his work. Showing that he faces the same objection is not the same as answering the objection.
- D
The professor doesn't begin with a fact about all art and apply it to every particular art form. The response compares Costa's use of period categories in opera with the professor's use of them in painting, then dismisses Costa for the apparent inconsistency. D describes a different route to a conclusion.
- E
The professor actually makes a comparison between theories about painting and theories about opera. The argument depends on treating their use of period assignments as comparable. E says the professor assumes such comparisons cannot be made, which goes against the response we just read.
More Flaw questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Flaw questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.