Editorial: In order to encourage personal responsibility in adults, society ... ...

Editorial: In order to encourage personal responsibility in adults, society should not restrict the performance of any of the actions of adults or interfere with the likely results except to prevent negative effects on others. Which one of the following expresses a view that is inconsistent with the principle stated in the editorial?
(A) We should not prevent the students from wasting the classroom time set aside for homework. But this does not mean that they may spend the time any way they wish. Activities disruptive to others should not be tolerated.
(B) ...
(C) ...
(D) ...
(E) ...

*This question is included in June 2013 LSAT (PT69): Logical Reasoning A

 
Replies to This Thread: 1 | ----
Editorial: In order to encourage personal responsibility in adults, society ... ... 
Posted: 11/28/2013 14:26
I chose A bit the correct answer is E. Is it because A contains "students", not adults?
Image Not Available
Contributor
Reply 1 of 1
Replies to This Thread: 0 | ----
 
Posted: 12/04/2013 19:59
Hi, Alice -

The fact that (A) refers to students rather than adults would indeed be enough to prevent it from being inconsistent with the stated principle, even if the statements otherwise contradicted each other.

As it happens, though, the statements are not contradictory. The principle states, essentially, that [adults] should be allowed to do as they wish as long as their actions do not cause problems for others. (A) roughly states that [students] should be allowed to waste time if they wish, but not if they disturb their classmates. So, in essence, even if (A) referred to the same population, it would be an example of the principle rather than a contradiction.

Please post again if you still have questions!

Best,
Lyn