#25 - Author's Perspective

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=11630)

The correct answer choice is (D)

The question stem asks for the answer choice with which the author would most reasonably agree concerning the requirements for developing effective automated legal reasoning systems.

Answer choice (A): With regard to the doctrinal model, the author discusses the challenges associated but does not suggest that the choice of this focus was a fundamental error. Rather, the challenges go along with the task itself, for which a solution has not yet been found.

Answer choice (B): The chief problem with legal reasoning systems is not memory but the limitations of the programming, so this answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (C): In the examples provided in the second paragraph of the passage, it is not rules programming that is the problem; it is inability to equip the systems with the comprehensive knowledge required for expert interpretation.

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The author notes the “intractable problem of developing a system that can discover for itself the factors that make cases similar in relevant ways.”

Answer choice (E): The incompetence of the legal practitioners is not the source of the problems with legal reasoning systems; the challenge lies in the creation of the programming.

[LSATLondon]

Hi there,
Can you explain in more detail why D) is correct?

The answer choice didn't make much sense to me enough to see why it's right.

Thank you in advance!

[Jeremy Press]

Hi LSATLondon,

A couple extra details that help explain why answer choice D is correct. First, the question stem calls for something we can most reasonably infer the author would agree with. The author's general tone with respect to the viability of legal reasoning systems is pessimistic (the "systems have fallen short" and "have not resulted" in something that can provide independent legal advice). Thus, the pessimism implied in answer choice D is entirely consistent with the author's tone throughout the passage.

As far as the details in answer choice D, the reference to "Legal statutes" is a callback to line 31 of the passage, and the doctrinal systems being discussed in paragraph 2. In that paragraph, we learn that there are both "problems of interpretation" (the deliberate vagueness of some statutory language, lines 31-33) and problems of application (lines 33-34) for which the current systems are inadequate. Thus, when answer choice D says that there may be some innovative applications that "cannot be modeled by a fixed set of rules," that is supported by the aforementioned lines in paragraph 2.

The reference to "Legal ... reasoning" in answer choice D is a callback to line 39 ("reasoning from cases"), and the case-based systems being discussed in paragraph 3. In that paragraph, we learn that there are problems with "system dependent and fixed" criteria (line 51) that do not allow the system the flexibility to "discover for itself" certain case similarities. Thus, when answer choice D says that there may innovative applications that "cannot be modeled by a fixed set of ... cases, or criteria," that is supported by the aforementioned lines in paragraph 3.

Does that clear up the confusion? Hopefully, and hope this was helpful!

Jeremy