Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT155 S4 Q14 Explanation

Deborra: The art of still

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Deborra: The art of still photography cannot enable us to understand the world. After all, understanding starts from refusing to accept the world as it looks and inquiring into the world’s reality, and the reality of the world is not in its images but in its functions. Functioning takes only that which narrates can enable us to understand.

What this question is testing

Necessary Assumption

Your task

Find the assumption the argument requires in order for its conclusion to hold.

Common trap

Answers that would help the argument but aren't strictly required (sufficient, not necessary).

Winning move

Negate each choice — the right one breaks the argument when negated.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
14.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which Deborra’s

Answer choices

  1. Too Strong: don't attempt2% picked this

    Artists who take still photographs do not attempt to understand

    It doesn't hurt the author's argument if still photographers attempt to understand the world. The author is ultimately saying their attempt will be futile, but it doesn't hurt the author to say that they're attempting.

  2. Too Broad: captured on film15% picked this

    The functioning of the world cannot be captured

    The author is assuming that "still photography" does not convey the functioning of the world. But moving photography (i.e. films), might be something the author believes can convey the functioning of the world.

  3. Correct78% picked this

    The art of still photography is

    Why this is right

    The author's first claim, her conclusion, says: Still Photography → can't help understand Her last claim, one of her premises says: doesn't narrate → can't help understand So she's assuming: Still Photography → doesn't narrate → can't help understand If we negated this, it would sound like a big objection to follow-up on the author's last claim. AUTHOR: only that which narrates can enable us to understand. NEGATED (C): cool, well still photography does narrate!

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

  4. Too Strong: not attainable through art2% picked this

    A complete understanding of the world is not attainable

    This argument is just about what still photography can't do, not about what the whole of art can / can't do.

  5. Out of Scope: properly explained2% picked this

    Images cannot be properly

    There's no language like "properly explained" when it comes to images. Properly explaining an image ≠ understanding the world.

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