June 2013 LSAT Section 1 Question 21

Essayist: Winners of a Nobel prize for science, who are typically professional scientists, have all made significant ...

SarahA on June 26, 2019

Why is B Incorrect?

Could someone please explain why answer choice B is incorrect; and how this sentence from the stimulus, apparently written in plain English, “And unlike professional scientists, who are often motivated by economic necessity or a desire for fame, amateur scientists are motivated by the love of discovery alone.,” does not translate to mean that ‘Professional scientists are not motivated by the love of discovery alone.’? Seriously, right there, in front of my eyes, it says ‘unlike.’ For instance, if it was said that “Unlike Sam, Larry doesn’t smoke.” Sam: smoke. Larry: no smoke. Is it not that simple? Because to me, it appears to be that simple! For real. Please explain. Thank you!

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Victoria on June 26, 2019

Hi @msaber,

Let's start by going through the passage.

The winners of a Nobel Prize for science are typically professional scientists and have all made significant contributions to science. These scientists are often motivated by economic necessity or a desire for fame.

While the above is true about professional scientists, amateur scientists have also made many significant contributions to science. These scientists are motivated by the love of discovery alone.

B is incorrect because it does not have to be true. While professional scientists are "often motivated by economic necessity or a desire for fame," we know nothing about their love, or lack thereof, of discovery. B states that "typically, winners of a Nobel Prize for science are not motivated at all by the love of discovery." We cannot know for sure whether the love of discovery factors into professional scientists' motivations. We simply know that they are often motivated by economic necessity or a desire for fame. These motivations could exist in conjunction with a love of discovery or, as the passage says 'often,' some professional scientists could be motivated by a love of discovery alone.

Comparatively, answer choice C says "the love of discovery is the motive behind many significant contributions to science." We know that amateur scientists have made many significant contributions to science and we know that they are motivated by the love of discovery alone. Therefore, it stands that many significant contributions to science have been motivated by the love of discovery.

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions.

SarahA on June 27, 2019

Thank you, Victoria!

Ravi on June 27, 2019

@msaber, let us know if you have any other questions!

Victoria on July 2, 2019

@msaber happy to help!