Logical Reasoning

PT138 · S4 · Q25 A law is successful primarily

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A law is successful primarily because the behavior it prescribes has attained the status of custom.

Evaluate

Since this question stem is asking what sort of Comparison the argument makes, we should primarily read with that goal.

The structure of "Just as X , so Y" implies a comparison between X and Y.

We're comparing Lucky Charms cereal to Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

In this argument we just read, it said,

We know we're comparing manners and societal laws. What is similar about them?

They both get their authority mainly through our habit of obeying them. Contrary behavior becomes unthinkable because abiding behavior becomes customary, not because people are afraid of the penalties that await were they to violate a rule of manners or law.

25.

Which one of the following comparisons is utilized by the argument?

  1. As with manners and other

    Not the Right Similarity

    This is making the correct comparison, between manners and laws, but the similarity is that they are both obeyed mainly because through customary behavior, behaving contrary to them feels unthinkable. The similarity was not that both things vary from society to society.

    3% picked this

  2. As with manners, the primary

    Too Strong

    Too Strong: primary basis Not the Right Similarity This is comparing manners and law, but it's saying that the intended similarity is .. for both things, the primary reason for considering whether to adopt it is custom. The argument was saying for both things, the reason that people follow them is custom.

    9% picked this

  3. Correct

    As with manners, the main

    Why this is right

    This is comparing manners and laws, saying that for both things, the main reason people comply with them is custom. The argument said that "manners are observed because through repetition (custom), contrary behavior becomes unthinkable", and "laws are obeyed because acting otherwise would be uncustomary".

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

    82% picked this

  4. As with manners, most laws

    Not the Right Similarity

    The author never gets as specific as most laws. And it seems like she probably believes that most laws are ethically required. The author seems to be acknowledging that laws are ethically required, and that laws do come with penalties if you break them. She is just saying that those two things are not the primary reason why laws are followed; the inertia of abiding by them makes breaking them feel too uncustomary.

    4% picked this

  5. As with manners, most laws

    Not the Right Similarity

    This is almost identical to (D). The author never gets as specific as most laws. And it seems like she probably believes that most laws do have penalties awaiting those who transgress. She never gets as specific as to say whether those penalties are strict. The author seems to be acknowledging that laws are ethically required, and that laws do come with penalties if you break them. She is just saying that those two things are not the primary reason why laws are followed; the customary habit of following the law is the reason they're followed.

    1% picked this

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