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LSAT Preptest 154, Section 1, Question 12

"Art history professor: Costa criticizes…"

Explanation

The question presents an argument by an art history professor concerning the criticism of his theories about the distinction between periods of Austrian painting. Costa, the critic, asserts that no unique features define the works from these periods exclusively, rendering such categorizations invalid. The professor counters this by saying Costa's reasoning is flawed because Costa's own theories on a different art subject also rely on period assignment. This question asks us to identify a flaw in the professor's rebuttal to Costa's criticism.

A. The professor's argument does not discuss conditions for discounting reasoning, neither sufficient nor necessary. It's structured around a support and conclusion format, where the professor aims to discredit Costa's criticism by highlighting a supposed inconsistency in Costa's own theories, not by confusing types of logical conditions.


B. The argument does not engage with the notion of theorists changing their theories over time. It focuses on the current state of Costa's theories and their reliance on the same methodology he criticizes, not on the evolution of his or any other theorist's ideas. 


C. (Correct Response) The professor's argument commits a type of ad hominem fallacy, dismissing Costa's criticism not on its merits but on an alleged inconsistency with Costa's own practices. The argument essentially says, "You do it too, so your criticism is invalid," which does not address the substance of the criticism. 


D. The content of the professor's argument does not make broad generalizations about art or assert that general truths about art must apply to every specific art form. The professor's point is not about universal application but about pointing out what he perceives as Costa's selective application of a critical standard.


E. The professor's argument does not imply that theories about different art forms are incomparable. Instead, it suggests that Costa's method of period assignment, which he uses in one context but criticizes in another, is inconsistent. The flaw pointed out by the professor is not about the comparability of theories but rather about the application of a standard across different contexts.

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