Reading Comprehension

PT142 · S3 · P3 · Q20 Neuroscience & Criminal-Justice

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Passage A

Passage A Passage B

Topic neuroscience neuroscience free will vs. free will vs. determinism determinism crime sentences

Main if humans have yes, all actions are Point no free will, determined, but then retribution the ones caused by is dumb. Focus you are free, the on prevention. ones caused by external are constrained

Topic

How neuroscience and philosophy are shaping the debate over free will, determinism, and legal responsibility.

Framework

Present Debate

Main Point

Both passages discuss how recent neuroscience challenges traditional ideas about free will and responsibility, especially in the context of the law. Passage A argues for reconsidering punishment based on our understanding of the brain's role in behavior, while Passage B presents a philosophical defense (Ayer's "soft determinism") for the compatibility of determinism and free will. - (Passage A, first sentence) - (Passage B, third paragraph)

P1: Passage A – Neuroscience Challenges Law and Retribution

This paragraph opens by saying that neuroscience sees us as nothing more than our brains, and our behavior as entirely caused by brain activity. Because of this, it calls into question traditional legal ideas about free will and responsibility. The author suggests that the idea of punishing people simply because they "chose" to do wrong is flawed, since many of our apparently free decisions might actually be dictated by factors out of our control. The passage advocates shifting legal focus from retribution to deterring future harm, and even hints that this might lead to lighter sentences.

P1: Passage B – Determinism vs. Free Will

This paragraph begins by acknowledging that neuroscience is making the case for determinism—suggesting our actions are caused by the brain and thus not truly "free." Despite this, it notes that philosophers have long argued that free will can coexist with determinism.

20.

Passage B differs from passage A in that passage B displays an attitude toward the ideas it discusses that is more

  1. engaged

    Opposite

    Passage B was a little more detached, as it spent most of the time dispassionately presenting Ayer's ideas. Passage A had more of a point of view.

    26% picked this

  2. dismissive

    Too Strong

    Dismissive is a really strong tone --- I'm not even gonna listen, I'm so dismissive. Neither author displayed that extreme tone.

    4% picked this

  3. Correct

    detached

    Why this is right

    Other than the last sentence, the author of Passage B was just second-hand information, presenting Ayer's ideas as the foreground. The author of Passage A was more engaged, using 2nd person pronouns, calling us self-delusional, and recommending the end of retributivist sentencing.

    Skill tested: Author's Attitude · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    60% picked this

  4. ironic

    Opposite

    It's pretty funny to think LSAT would test irony, when it's famously hard to pin down. Passage B is more scholarly and neutral. Passage A has more zazz, more personality, more of an editorial style, so if anything we'd expect to find snark and irony in Passage A.

    2% picked this

  5. skeptical

    Fails Both

    Both authors are pretty accepting of neuroscience's findings, and they're musing over the implications of them. Skeptical implies "dubious, somewhat unbelieving". Neither author had an un-believing attitude towards anything. If anything, we could say that Passage A was skeptical that punishing people for crimes was the right call.

    8% picked this

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