Q2 - You should not praise an

[ebrickm2]

How is B wrong, it can't be just b/c the word "charitable" is used, that would be absurd.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

The stimulus can be divided into two principles...

1. If you should praise an act of apparent generosity, then you must believe that it is actually performed out of selfless motives.

2. If you should condemn an act of apparent selfishness, then you must believe it is actually performed out of self-centered motives.

We're asked to find a judgment that conforms to either one of the two principles.

(A) attempts to use the second principle but fails, since we are not given information that would enable us to know that Caroline believed that the act was actually performed out of self-centered motives.
(B) attempts to use the first of the two principles, but the problem here is that Sarah only "guesses" that he told her this fact in an attempt to impress her. Not the same as "believing."
(C) is out of scope. The principles do not discuss justifiably excusing someone from an act that wasn't apparently generous.
(D) correctly applies the first of the two principles.
(E) fails to address the motives Louise may have had for adopting the dog, and so therefore cannot be said to conform to either principle.

Does that help clear things up?

[perrin.samuels]

> (B) attempts to use the first of the two principles, but the
> problem here is that Sarah only "guesses" that he told her this
> fact in an attempt to impress her. Not the same as "believing."

Whether "belief" or "guess," the real problem here seems to be with the OBJECT of the belief/guess. Sarah's reckoning is about why Michael "told that fact," not about why Michael "donates a tenth of his income to charity." IMHO, this is the real reason why answer choice (B) is incorrect.

Put another way, answer choice (B) would be correct if it were slightly modified as follows:

"It was correct for Sarah not to praise Michael for being charitable when he told her that he donates a tenth of his income to charity, since she guessed that he only donates his income in order to impress her."

If you believe I'm wrong, or guess I'm off my rocker, please lemme know! ...and please specify which!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

You're absolutely correct. Rereading the explanation originally posted, I think I could have been more clear. Although, I still believe that there is a difference between guessing and believing, the more fundamental issue does exist in the object of the belief.

Answer choice (B) discusses Sarah's guess why Michael told her of his charitable donation, not why he actually made the donation.

Let me adjust my thoughts on answer choice (B)

(B) attempts to use the first of the two principles, but the problem here is that Sarah only "guesses" that he told her this fact in an attempt to impress her. Not the same as "believing" the act was performed out of selfish motives.

Great work perrin.samuels!

[wj097]

The stimulus can be divided into two principles...

1. If you should praise an act of apparent generosity, then you must believe that it is actually performed out of selfless motives.

2. If you should condemn an act of apparent selfishness, then you must believe it is actually performed out of self-centered motives.

Hi Matt, I was wondering whether the necessary/sufficiency of the given principle is important in Principle Conform questions... i.e., would D still be an answer if the principle was instead, "If you believe that an act is performed out of selfless motives, you should praise it" (contrapositive: if not praise, then must not be selfless => seems like it matches D)

Thx

[WaltGrace1983]

The stimulus can be divided into two principles...

1. If you should praise an act of apparent generosity, then you must believe that it is actually performed out of selfless motives.

2. If you should condemn an act of apparent selfishness, then you must believe it is actually performed out of self-centered motives.

Hi Matt, I was wondering whether the necessary/sufficiency of the given principle is important in Principle Conform questions... i.e., would D still be an answer if the principle was instead, "If you believe that an act is performed out of selfless motives, you should praise it" (contrapositive: if not praise, then must not be selfless => seems like it matches D)

Thx

I do not think hypothetical (D) would be correct. With Principle questions, the necessary/sufficient conditions are crucial and they must match up!

EDIT: actually, I think there was one Principle question in the late 30s PT where this wasn't the case but that was a pretty bad question. Either way, the point stands: sufficient/necessary ARE absolutely critical.