Flawed ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: An herbalist claims their juice is beneficial and dismisses medical warnings as nothing more than doctors being greedy and protective of their business.
Conclusion: There is no valid reason to avoid trying the herbalist's herb juice.
Reasoning: Many customers report improved coordination, and the doctors who warn against the juice are simply trying to protect their professional monopoly.
Analysis: The herbalist commits a textbook 'ad hominem' fallacy by attacking the doctors' motives rather than addressing their medical concerns. Even if doctors are indeed trying to maintain a monopoly, that doesn't mean their assessment of the juice's toxicity is incorrect. Furthermore, the herbalist relies on anecdotal evidence from 'many customers' to prove the juice is safe, which ignores the possibility of long-term or rare side effects. The reasoning is essentially: 'They are mean and my friends like it, so the warnings are fake,' which is a logically bankrupt way to evaluate safety.
Conclusion: There is no valid reason to avoid trying the herbalist's herb juice.
Reasoning: Many customers report improved coordination, and the doctors who warn against the juice are simply trying to protect their professional monopoly.
Analysis: The herbalist commits a textbook 'ad hominem' fallacy by attacking the doctors' motives rather than addressing their medical concerns. Even if doctors are indeed trying to maintain a monopoly, that doesn't mean their assessment of the juice's toxicity is incorrect. Furthermore, the herbalist relies on anecdotal evidence from 'many customers' to prove the juice is safe, which ignores the possibility of long-term or rare side effects. The reasoning is essentially: 'They are mean and my friends like it, so the warnings are fake,' which is a logically bankrupt way to evaluate safety.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage14.The reasoning in the herbalist's argument is flawed because the argument
Correct Answer
C
C correctly identifies the ad hominem: the herbalist rejects the doctors’ warning by attacking their motives (maintaining a monopoly), not by evaluating the safety evidence.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal