Logical Reasoning

PT6 · S3 · Q2 The use of money causes a

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

The use of money causes a civilization to decline.

Conclusion

The use of money causes a civilization to decline.

Evidence (that this is true is shown by)

The troubles of Western civilization began with the invention of money.

The decline of Western civilization parallels the increasing use of both real money and worthless paper money as a substitute for things of intrinsic value.

Evaluate

The argument revolves around a correlation between the use of money and the decline of Western civilization. It implicitly suggests a causal relationship, making it a perfect candidate for the Explain Curious Fact pattern.

Curious Fact

Why has Western civilization declined?

Author's Explanation

The use of money (real and paper) caused the decline.

Goal

To weaken this argument, we can either propose an Alternate Explanation for the decline or Challenge the Plausibility of the Author's Explanation that money causes a civilization to decline.

2.

Which one of the following, if true, could contribute most to a refutation of the argument?

  1. People prefer using money to

    No Impact

    People's preference for using money instead of bartering does not address whether money itself causes civilization to decline. People prefer fatty foods to vegetables, but that doesn't undermine the idea that fatty foods have caused the decline of our health.

    12% picked this

  2. Correct

    Eastern cultures have used money,

    Why this is right

    This attacks the plausibility of the author's causal story by providing Cause w/o Effect data points. Eastern cultures have money (the supposed Cause) but have not declined (have not experienced the supposed Effect).

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

    81% picked this

  3. The use of paper money

    Opposite Impact (strengthens)

    This supports the plausibility of the idea that paper money could contribute to the decline of civilization, because it encourages disregard for the value of work, which sounds like something that undermines civilization.

    4% picked this

  4. The rate of exchange between

    No Impact

    This is one of those "differences exist" / "things change" answers you see on Strengthen / Weaken. Naturally exchange rates fluctuate. What does that have to do with money causing the decline of civilization? Do fluctuating exchange rates undermine civilization?

    2% picked this

  5. Some employers exchange goods for

    No Impact

    This is such a weak idea it's unlikely to be correct on Str / Wkn. The fact that "at least one employer pays in goods rather than money" doesn't do anything to help us argue that money doesn't cause the decline of civilization.

    1% 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