Critical Reasoning

Critic: Political utility determines the popularity of a metaphor. In authoritarian societies, the metaphor of society as a human body governed by a head is pervasive. Therefore, the society-as-body metaphor, with its connection between society's proper functioning and governance by a head, promotes greater acceptance of authoritarian repression than do other metaphors, such as likening society to a family.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the critic's argument?
(A) In authoritarian societies, the metaphor of society as a family is just as pervasive as the society-as-body metaphor.
(B) Every society tries to justify the legitimacy of its government through the use of metaphor.
(C) The metaphor of society as a human body is sometimes used in nonauthoritarian societies.
(D) Authoritarian leaders are always searching for new metaphors for society in their effort to maintain their power.
(E) The metaphor of society as a human body governed by head is rarely used in liberal democracies.

Hi,

the correct answer is choice A

To weaken the argument we need a choice that breaks the connection between authoritarian societies and society-as-body metaphor or else a choice that connects authoritarian socities to society-as-family metaphor. Choice A does this.

Choice B is irrelevant as it doesn't relate to any particular metaphor.
Choice C is irrelevant because the author is not disallowing nonauthoritarian societies from using the body metaphor--he's just arguing that the body metaphor is more common in authoritarian societies.
Choice D is irrelevant.
Choice E strengthens the argument.

Thanks for the explanation.