kittymctaco wrote:Anarchists believe that the ideal society is one in which the motivation to maintain law and order lies in the innate reasonableness of human nature rather than in the threat of force.

a lies in the innate reasonableness of human nature rather than in the threat of force
b lie in the innate reasonableness of human nature rather than in the threat of force
c lays in the innate reasonableness of human nature rather than the threat of force
d lay in the innate reasonableness of human nature instead of the threat of force
e lies in the innate reasonableness of human nature instead of the threat of force

I choose e instead of a (ha ha). Can someone explain why "rather than" is preferable to "instead of"?

Thanks,
Rebecca

Rather than - shows preference. This expression is generally used in 'parallel' structures.

Instead of - suggests that one person, thing or action replaces another.