Critical Reasoning

The extend to which a society is really free can be gauged by its attitude towards artistic expression. Freedom of expression can easily be violated in even the most outwardly democratic of societies. When a government arts council withholds funding from a dance performance that its members deem "obscene," the voices of a few bureaucrats have in fact censored the work of the choreographer, thereby committing the real obscenity of repression.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

a. Members of govt. arts council are screened to ensure that their beliefs reflect those of the majority.

b. The term 'obscenity' has several different definitions that should not be used interchangeably for rhetorical effect.

c. failing to provide financial support for a performance is not the same as actively preventing or inhibiting it.

d. The council's decision could be reversed if the performance were altered to conform to public standards or appropriateness.

e. the definition of 'obscenity' is something on which most members of the society can agree.

Answer- C

C seems to be the best.

arg is connecting council's withholding funding to repression.

to weaken it c tells us that not giving financial support is not the same as preventing or inhibiting it. hence weakening the arg in the process.

the argument assumes that funding the dance is promoting freedom of expression. To weaken the argument, we just have to assume the opposite which is C