Principle JustifyDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The censor notes that anarchist novels are full of anti-government ideas and violence. Because of this, the censor concludes it's fine to ban them as long as they do more damage to society than good.
Conclusion: It is acceptable to ban any anarchist novel that results in more societal harm than benefit.
Reasoning: Anarchist novels are defined by their subversive outlooks and their depictions of widespread violence.
Analysis: The argument moves from a description of what anarchist novels *are* (subversive and violent) to a claim about what is *permissible* to do to them (ban them based on a harm-benefit analysis). This is a classic 'is-ought' gap. To justify this reasoning, we need a principle that connects these specific characteristics to the right of the state to censor them. Look for an answer that grants permission to ban works if they possess these negative traits and meet the 'more harm than good' criteria. The principle must validate the jump from the content of the books to the act of banning them.
Conclusion: It is acceptable to ban any anarchist novel that results in more societal harm than benefit.
Reasoning: Anarchist novels are defined by their subversive outlooks and their depictions of widespread violence.
Analysis: The argument moves from a description of what anarchist novels *are* (subversive and violent) to a claim about what is *permissible* to do to them (ban them based on a harm-benefit analysis). This is a classic 'is-ought' gap. To justify this reasoning, we need a principle that connects these specific characteristics to the right of the state to censor them. Look for an answer that grants permission to ban works if they possess these negative traits and meet the 'more harm than good' criteria. The principle must validate the jump from the content of the books to the act of banning them.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage18.Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the censor's reasoning?
Correct Answer
D
It directly supplies: if a novel would cause society more harm than good and has two or more objectionable characteristics, it’s permissible to ban it. Since all anarchist novels have the two traits, this licenses banning any anarchist novel that would do more harm than good.
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