Policy Adviser: Freedom of speech is not only a basic human right; it is also the only rational policy for this gover...
stormbeelerOctober 29, 2015
Choice D
Could you please go into detail on how D is the best choice here. I really didn't like any of the answer choices. Does D show what can be gained by freedom of speech? Thanks.
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The conclusion in the stimulus is that freedom of speech is "the only rational policy for this government to adopt." Our task in this strengthen question is to find further support of this specific conclusion. With that in mind, let's review the options.
Answer choice (A) can be eliminated as irrelevant. Citizens' tolerance of limits on free speech does not seem to support the view that NO limits ought to exist on free speech (as proposed by the conclusion of the stimulus, which we are to strengthen).
Answer choice (B) does not strengthen the conclusion, either. How governments respond to "dangerous ideas" is an entirely separate matter than whether this government ought to adopt a free speech policy.
Answer choice (C) does not strengthen the conclusion--it goes beyond the scope of our task, introducing other considerations (freedom of religions, freedom of assembly). We are only concerned here with freedom of speech.
Answer choice (D) gives us an additional reason why adopting a free speech policy is, in fact, the rational approach--if this government adopts a free speech policy, it will be less likely to be overthrown. Thus, this answer choice does indeed strengthen the argument presented in the stimulus.
Answer choice (E) is at best irrelevant and at worst a way to weaken the conclusion in the stimulus. If great ideas can flourish even where speech is repressed, then the argument in favor of free speech presented in the stimulus is weakened.
