What is an Argument?

The LNAT (Law National Admissions Test) Section A tests your ability to analyse arguments — but before you can identify, evaluate, or critique arguments, you need to understand exactly what an argument is and how it is structured.

In everyday language, an "argument" often means a disagreement or heated debate. In critical thinking, however, the word has a precise technical meaning. Mastering this distinction is the foundation for every question you will encounter on the LNAT.

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The Structure of an Argument

An argument in critical thinking is a set of statements in which one or more statements (called premises) are offered as reasons for accepting another statement (called the conclusion).

Every argument has two essential components:

Component	Definition	Role
Premise(s)	Statements offered as evidence or reasons	Support the conclusion
Conclusion	The statement that the premises are intended to support	The main claim being argued for

Key Principle: An argument is not merely a statement of opinion. It is an opinion (conclusion) backed by reasons (premises). Without reasons, there is no argument — just an assertion.

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A Simple Example

Consider the following passage:

"University tuition fees should be abolished. The current system disproportionately burdens students from low-income backgrounds, and access to higher education should be a right, not a privilege."

Let us break this down:

Component	Statement
Conclusion	University tuition fees should be abolished
Premise 1	The current system disproportionately burdens students from low-income backgrounds
Premise 2	Access to higher education should be a right, not a privilege

The two premises provide reasons for accepting the conclusion. Together, they form an argument.

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Arguments vs Non-Arguments

Not every piece of writing contains an argument. On the LNAT, you need to distinguish argumentative passages from:

Descriptions

"The United Kingdom has four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland."

This is a factual statement. No one is trying to persuade you of anything — there is no conclusion being argued for.

Explanations

"Crime rates fell in the 1990s because policing strategies improved and economic conditions were favourable."

This explains why something happened. It is not trying to persuade you that crime rates fell — that is taken as established fact. An argument, by contrast, tries to persuade you to accept something that is not yet taken for granted.

Opinions without reasons

"I think the death penalty is wrong."

This is an assertion. Without any reasons offered in support, it is not an argument.

LNAT Tip: When reading a passage, always ask: "Is the author trying to persuade me of something, and are they giving reasons?" If yes, you are looking at an argument.

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Premises: The Building Blocks

Premises are the reasons offered to support a conclusion. They can take many forms:

• Factual claims: "Violent crime has decreased by 30% over the past decade."
• Statistical evidence: "82% of respondents supported the proposal."
• Appeals to principle: "Every citizen has a right to free expression."
• Expert testimony: "Leading economists agree that the policy would reduce inequality."
• Analogies: "Just as we regulate the sale of alcohol, we should regulate the sale of sugary drinks."

A single argument may have one premise or many. The LNAT frequently tests whether you can identify which statements are functioning as premises and which is the conclusion.

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Conclusions: The Destination

The conclusion is what the author wants you to accept. It is the point of the argument. Key characteristics of conclusions:

1. They are supported by the premises — the premises provide reasons for believing the conclusion
2. They are often (but not always) signalled by indicator words — "therefore", "hence", "thus", "consequently", "it follows that", "we can conclude that"
3. They can appear anywhere in a passage — beginning, middle, or end

Worked Example

"Since the government has a duty to protect public health, and passive smoking causes serious harm to non-smokers, it follows that smoking in enclosed public spaces should be prohibited."

Component	Statement
Premise 1	The government has a duty to protect public health
Premise 2	Passive smoking causes serious harm to non-smokers
Conclusion	Smoking in enclosed public spaces should be prohibited

The indicator phrase "it follows that" signals the conclusion.

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Intermediate Conclusions

Some arguments are more complex, containing intermediate conclusions (also called sub-conclusions). An intermediate conclusion is a statement that is both supported by some premises and itself serves as a premise for the main conclusion.

Example

"Social media companies collect vast amounts of personal data without meaningful user consent. This represents a serious violation of privacy. Therefore, the government should introduce stricter data protection regulations."

Component	Statement
Premise	Social media companies collect vast amounts of personal data without meaningful user consent
Intermediate conclusion	This represents a serious violation of privacy
Main conclusion	The government should introduce stricter data protection regulations

The intermediate conclusion ("serious violation of privacy") is supported by the first premise and then itself supports the main conclusion. Recognising this layered structure is essential for LNAT questions that ask you to identify the main conclusion of a passage.

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The Difference Between Deductive and Inductive Arguments

Arguments come in two broad types:

Type	How it works	Strength of support
Deductive	If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true	Conclusive (if valid)
Inductive	The premises make the conclusion probable but not certain	Varies from weak to strong

Deductive example

"All mammals are warm-blooded. Whales are mammals. Therefore, whales are warm-blooded."

If both premises are true, the conclusion cannot be false.

Inductive example

"Every swan I have ever seen is white. Therefore, all swans are white."

The premises make the conclusion probable, but it could still be false (black swans exist in Australia).

LNAT Relevance: Most LNAT passages contain inductive arguments — the author provides evidence that makes a conclusion probable, but does not guarantee it. This is precisely why questions can ask about assumptions, flaws, and whether conclusions are fully supported.

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Practical Framework for Identifying Arguments

When you encounter an LNAT passage, use this systematic approach:

1. Read the passage carefully — understand the topic and the author's position
2. Find the conclusion — what is the author's main point? What are they trying to persuade you to accept?
3. Find the premises — what reasons or evidence do they offer in support?
4. Check for intermediate conclusions — are any statements both supported by evidence and used to support the main conclusion?
5. Consider what is NOT stated — what assumptions connect the premises to the conclusion?

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Summary

An argument consists of premises (reasons) offered in support of a conclusion (the main claim). Not all passages contain arguments — descriptions, explanations, and unsupported opinions are not arguments. Arguments can be simple (one or two premises leading to a conclusion) or complex (with intermediate conclusions). Most LNAT arguments are inductive, meaning the premises make the conclusion probable but not certain. Understanding this structure is the essential first step for every LNAT Section A question.