June 2007 LSAT Question Explanations June 2007 - Sec 2 - LR...

June 2007 - Sec 2 - LR - Q11

Video Transcript:

0:05
Question 11: It is now common complaint that the electronic media have
0:11
corroded the intellectual skills required and fostered by the literary media. But
0:16
several centuries ago the complaint was that certain intellectual skills, such as
0:21
the powerful memory and extemporaneous eloquence that were intrisic to
0:26
oral culture, were being destroyed by the spread of literacy. So, what awaits us
0:30
is probably a mere alteration of the human mind rather than its devolution. So
0:36
first step argument or facts? Clearly we have an argument. The inclusion being the last
0:41
sentence that what awaits us is probably a mere alteration of the human mind
0:46
rather than its devolution. And how do we know that? Well it's now a common
0:52
complaint that the electronic media have corroded the intellectual skills required
0:56
and fostered by the literary media. But several centuries ago we had a similar complaint
1:01
that certain intellectual skills, such as powerful memory and extemporaneous eloquence
1:07
that were intrinsic to culture, were being destroyed by the spread of
1:12
literacy. And what's probably gonna await us is a mere alteration of the human mind
1:17
rather than its devolution. So that is the support for this argument. Now we turn
1:24
our attention to the questions stem. The reference to the complaint of several
1:28
centuries ago
1:30
that powerful memory extemporaneous eloquence were being destroyed plays which one of
1:34
the following roles in the argument? You notice it's asking what rule is this second sentence
1:40
playing in the argument. So we have an argument structure question. Refering us back to the
1:47
second sentence and again that is an example where we didn't see a devlolution of the mind so what
1:53
probably awaits us again in this new situation with the electronic media
1:57
is an alteration of the human mind. So let's take a look here at (A): Evidence
2:04
supporting the claim that intellectual skills fostered by the literary media are
2:08
being destroyed by the electronic media. And while it is evidence you notice
2:13
athe problem with (A) is that that is not that claim the author is making. The author is not
2:16
saying that the
2:17
intellectual skills fostered by the literary media are being destroyed by
2:21
the electronic media. He actually thinks that it's probably just gonna be a mere
2:26
alteration of the human mind rather than its devolution. So (A) does not apply and
2:32
(A) would be eliminated. Moving to (B): An illustration of the general hypothesis
2:38
being advanced that intellectual abilities are inseparable from the means
2:43
by which people communicate. And again you notice that is not what the author is
2:48
doing here. He is not using it as an illustration of the general hypothesis being advanced
2:53
that intellectual abilities are inseparable from the means by which
2:57
people communicate. Where is that stated? (B) completely does not follow so (B) is
3:03
out.
3:04
(C) An example of a cultural change that did not necessarily have a detrimental
3:11
effect on the human mind overall. And you notice (C) here captures the role the second
3:18
sentence is playing in the argument so (C) would be the correct answer. Again it is
3:26
used as an example of a change that they're not necessarily have a
3:30
detrimental effect on the human mind overall. Again you notice that the conclusion is what
3:35
probably awaits is a mere alteration of the human mind rather than its
3:40
devolution. So (C) would be the correct answer. But just making sure... (D) Evidence
3:46
that the claim that the intellectual skills required and fostered by the literary
3:50
media are being lost is unwarranted. And you notice the problem with (D) here is
3:56
that the author is not saying that this claim is unwarranted. It's just that it's
4:01
not going to result in a devolution of the mind. Right? That this is the result in a
4:07
mere alteration of the human mind rather than its devolution. He doesn't really say
4:14
whether this claim that the intellectual skills are being lost is unwarrented. He's
4:19
just saying it's not goint to result in the devolution of the human mind but rather
4:24
in alteration. And that is why (D) is not correct.
4:28
Whereas (C) is the correct answer because you notice (C) says, 'the example
4:33
of a cultural change that did not necessarily have a detrimental effect on
4:38
the human mind overall'. And then lastly here just checking (E): Possible evidence,
4:45
mentioned and then dismissed, that might be cited by supporters of the hypothesis being
4:50
criticized. And again this evidence would not be cited by the supporters of the
4:56
hypothesis being criticized. And it's not actually dismissed either
5:01
He uses this example to then make his final point that what probably awaits us is
5:08
a mere alteration of the human mind rather than its devolution. So (E) again does not
5:13
follow. (C) would be the correct answer.