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Course: LSAT > Unit 1
Lesson 6: Logical Reasoning – Articles- Getting started with Logical Reasoning
- Introduction to arguments
- Catalog of question types
- Types of conclusions
- Types of evidence
- Types of flaws
- Identify the conclusion | Quick guide
- Identify the conclusion | Learn more
- Identify the conclusion | Examples
- Identify an entailment | Quick guide
- Identify an entailment | Learn more
- Strongly supported inferences | Quick guide
- Strongly supported inferences | Learn more
- Disputes | Quick guide
- Disputes | Learn more
- Identify the technique | Quick guide
- Identify the technique | Learn more
- Identify the role | Quick guide
- Identify the role | learn more
- Identify the principle | Quick guide
- Identify the principle | Learn more
- Match structure | Quick guide
- Match structure | Learn more
- Match principles | Quick guide
- Match principles | Learn more
- Identify a flaw | Quick guide
- Identify a flaw | Learn more
- Match a flaw | Quick guide
- Match a flaw | Learn more
- Necessary assumptions | Quick guide
- Necessary assumptions | Learn more
- Sufficient assumptions | Quick guide
- Sufficient assumptions | Learn more
- Strengthen and weaken | Quick guide
- Strengthen and weaken | Learn more
- Helpful to know | Quick guide
- Helpful to know | learn more
- Explain or resolve | Quick guide
- Explain or resolve | Learn more
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Match principles | Learn more
How do we match the principles of two arguments or situations?
“Match principles” questions are similar to match structure questions, in that the passage represents an argument or a situation, and each choice also represents an argument or a situation. Your task is to identify the choice that illustrates the same principle as the passage does.
How do we recognize Match Principle questions?
These questions will consist of:
- A specific situation or argument in the passage, and
- A specific situation or argument in each choice.
Examples
The principle underlying the argument above is most similar to the principle underlying which one of the following arguments?
Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated by the argument above?
Example
Evan: I am a vegetarian because I believe it is immoral to inflict pain on animals to obtain food. Some vegetarians who share this moral reason nonetheless consume some seafood, on the grounds that it is not known whether certain sea creatures can experience pleasure or pain. But if it is truly wrong to inflict needless suffering, we should extend the benefit of the doubt to sea animals and refrain from eating seafood.
Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle illustrated by Evan's criticism of vegetarians who eat seafood?
(A) I do not know if I have repaid Farah the money she lent me for a movie ticket. She says that she does not remember whether or not I repaid her. In order to be sure that I have repaid her, I will give her the money now.
(B) It is uncertain whether all owners of the defective vehicles know that their vehicles are being recalled by the manufacturer. Thus, we should expect that some vehicles that have been recalled have not been returned.
(C) I am opposed to using incentives such as reduced taxes to attract businesses to our region. These incentives would attract businesses interested only in short-term profits. Such businesses would make our region's economy less stable, because they have no long-term commitment to the community.
(D) Updating our computer security system could lead to new contracts. The present system has no problems, but we could benefit from emphasizing a state-of-the-art system in new proposals. If we do not get new customers, the new system could be financed through higher fees for current customers.
(E) Isabel Allende lived through the tragic events of her country's recent history; no doubt her novels have been inspired by her memories of those events. Yet Allende's characters are hopeful and full of joy, indicating that Allende's own view of life has not been negatively marked by her experiences.
How might we tackle this question?
✓ Identify the principle that governs the passage: When considering principles, it’s usually helpful to ask yourself what the arguer seems to value—in other words, why they recommend or predict or compare what they do. And if the passage contains an argument (instead of just a scenario), then it’s helpful to separate the evidence and conclusion in order to identify the principle.
In our example, we are asked about Evan’s criticism of vegetarians who eat seafood, so we can feel confident that we’re dealing with an argument:
Conclusion
- If it is truly wrong to inflict needless suffering, we should extend the benefit of the doubt to sea animals and refrain from eating seafood
because
Support
- I am a vegetarian because I believe it is immoral to inflict pain on animals to obtain food.
- Some vegetarians who share this moral reason nonetheless consume some seafood, on the grounds that
- It is not known whether certain sea creatures can experience pleasure or pain.
And what does Evan appear to value? Evan’s recommendation for responding to an unknown (whether sea creatures can experience pain) is to err on the side of caution—in other words, act in a way that prioritizes the sea creatures’ benefit.
✓ Examine each choice: It isn’t possible to predict a specific answer for Matching Principles questions, since you can’t anticipate what the topic could be. After you formulate a strong generalized idea of the passage’s principle (in this case, “err on the side of caution”), you can jump right to the choices. As you evaluate the choices, quickly eliminate any that deviate even a little bit from the principle that we identified.
Summary
- ✓ Identify the principle that governs the passage in general terms.
- ✓ If it’s an argument, separate the conclusion from the support.
- ✓ Examine each choice in turn.
Your turn!
Takeaways
- If you struggle with “Identify the principle” questions, then “Match principles” questions will likely be even tougher for you. Consider strengthening your principle-perceptor muscles by working through some “Identify the principle” lessons and questions before tackling more “Match principles” questions.
- “Match principle” questions are not very common on the LSAT, so many students choose to skip them in search of faster and easier points.
- Try to zoom out and sum up the “big picture” when identifying the principle: what the arguer values and how the arguer makes a point is much more important than the details of the specific topic the arguer is addressing.