July 2020 LSAT Section 1 Question 20

Mr. Klemke argues that the complaints recently lodged against his roofing company are unfounded, on the grounds that ...

Jack-Passero on August 4, 2022

How is this not an Ad Hominem fallacy?

Klemke notes that the complaints are unfounded because the complainants are biased, diminishing their argument based on their bias, not on the arguments themselves. How is this not an attack on the complainants rather than their argument?

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Emil-Kunkin on August 5, 2022

Hi Jack,

I think you're right that K's argument is an ad hominem fallacy. However, the question is asking for the flaw in the argument dismissing K's argument, rather than the flaw in K's argument.

Abigail-Okereke on August 29, 2022

Hello, like Jack I also noted the ad hominem fallacy. I chose answer choice B without being entirely sure of the type of flaw. What flaw is used to dismiss Klemke's argument?

Emil-Kunkin on September 1, 2022

Hi Abigail,

The author dismisses K's argument on the grounds that his argument failed to prove the complaints were unfounded. Essentially, the argument is as follows: K says they are unfounded because of disagreement, but disagreement alone does not prove unfounded, so the complaints are not unfounded. Just because K has failed to prove his conclusion does not mean that his conclusion is not true- only that his argument is not valid.