weakens the conclusion

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weakens the conclusion

by thephoenix » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:07 am
Opponents of drug laws that forbid using marijuana argue that in a free country, people have the right to take risks with their bodies as long as the people do not cause harm to befall others as a result of taking the risks. This principle leads them to conclude that each person should have the right to decide for him or herself whether to use marijuana.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?

The rate of overdose fatalities in countries that do not have drug laws that forbid using marijuana is greater than the rate of fatalities in countries that do have such laws.

Unlike cocaine or heroin, there is little evidence, if any, that marijuana is addictive.

A greater percentage of fatal car accidents are caused by marijuana users than by alcohol users.

There is no evidence to suggest that people suffer medical maladies as a result of second-hand marijuana smoke.

Health insurance rates for all people are higher because of the need to pay for the increased medical care users of marijuana require.

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by gmatmachoman » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:14 am

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by [email protected] » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:22 am
The answer is E.The conclusion of the argument is that each person should have the right to decide for him or herself whether to use marijuana.The basis of this conclusion which is the assumption is that people have the right to take risks with their bodies as long as the people do not cause harm to befall others as a result of taking the risks.
Option E states that it affects the other people indirectly since Health insurance rates for all people are higher because of the need to pay for the increased medical care users of marijuana require.
Thus the conclusion is weakened.

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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:33 am
gmatmachoman wrote:IMO C
C is wrong because it is tagential to the argument but does not weaken the argument. By introducing alcohol, it brings in something that was not in the stiumulus. This answer would have weakened the conclusion if the conclusion dealt with why marijuana should be legal as long as alcohol is legal.
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by harshavardhanc » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:33 pm
The Conclusion is based on :
......do not cause harm to befall others as a result of taking the risks. ........
and if :


Health insurance rates for all people are higher because of the need to pay for the increased medical care users of marijuana require.

the foundation on which the conclusion rests gets a hit !

hence, this option weakens the conclusion.
Regards,
Harsha