Logical Reasoning

PT124 · S1 · Q25 Occultist: The issue of whether astrology

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Occultist: The issue of whether astrology is a science is easily settled: it is both an art and a science.

Evidence

The scientific components of astrology are the complicated mathematics and the astronomical knowledge needed to create an astrological chart.

The art is in the synthesis of a multitude of factors and symbols into a coherent statement of their relevance to an individual.

Conclusion

The issue of whether astrology is a science is easily settled: it is both an art and a science.

Evaluate

This argument asserts that astrology is artistic and scientific because it has elements that are artistic and scientific. This is an example of the Part to Whole Fallacy.

25.

The reasoning in the occultist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

  1. presumes, without providing justification, that

    Reversed Logic

    The argument presumes that because astrology involves complicated mathematics that it is a science, but not the other way around.

    3% picked this

  2. Correct

    incorrectly infers that a practice

    Why this is right

    This points out that merely having scientific components does not make astrology a science.

    Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    73% picked this

  3. denies the possibility that astrology

    Contradiction

    The argument does not deny this possibility.

    9% picked this

  4. incorrectly infers that astronomical knowledge

    Unsupported Relationship

    The argument does say that astronomical knowledge is scientific, but does not base that assertion on the fact that astronomical knowledge is needed to create an astrological chart.

    12% picked this

  5. presumes, without providing justification, that

    Reversed Logic

    The argument does assume that synthesizing a multitude of factors and symbols makes something an art, but it does not assume that all arts must do so.

    4% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free