akhil911 wrote:
Some argue that laws are instituted at least in part to help establish a particular moral fabric in society. But the primary function of law is surely to help order society so that its institutions, organisations, and citizenry can work together harmoniously, regardless of any further moral aims of the law. Indeed, the highest courts have on occasion treated moral beliefs based on conscience or religious faith as grounds for making exceptions in the application of laws.
The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following ?
a) The manner in which laws are applied sometimes takes into account the beliefs of the people governed by those laws.
b) The law has as one of its functions the ordering of society but is devoid of moral aims.
c) Actions based on religious belief or on moral conviction tend to receive the protection of the highest courts.
d) The way a society is ordered by law should not reflect any moral convictions about the way society ought to be ordered.
e) The best way to promote cooperation among a society's institutions, organizations, and citizenry is to institute order in that society by means of law.
Hi Akhil,
I approached this question by first readying the question stem and then breaking the passage into its parts.
The question stem seems to be asking us to identify a conclusion that is supported by the premise(s) of the passage.
Now we look at the passage, and know that we need to identify the premise(s).
Irrelevant: Some argue that laws are instituted at least in part to help establish a particular moral fabric in society. But the primary function of law is surely to help order society so that its institutions, organisations, and citizenry can work together harmoniously, regardless of any further moral aims of the law.
Premise: Indeed, the highest courts have on occasion treated moral beliefs based on conscience or religious faith as grounds for making exceptions in the application of laws.
Now we move to the answer choices and use a process of elimination. In cases where you are searching for a conclusion, it helps to apply a conclusion term in front of it, like "therefore" (whereas for premise searches, put words in front like "because").
A) The high courts have [...] treated moral beliefs [...] as a ground for making exception in the application of law, [THEREFORE] The manner in which laws are applied sometimes takes into account the beliefs of the people governed by those laws.
This makes sense so I keep it as a possible answer.
B) The high courts have [...] treated moral beliefs [...] as a ground for making exception in the application of law, [THEREFORE] The law has as one of its functions the ordering of society but is devoid of moral aims.
This doesn't make sense because the premise says that courts DO consider morality in legal decisions. Eliminate B.
C) The high courts have [...] treated moral beliefs [...] as a ground for making exception in the application of law, [THEREFORE] Actions based on religious belief or on moral conviction tend to receive the protection of the highest courts.
This makes sense, so I keep it as a possible answer.
D) The high courts have [...] treated moral beliefs [...] as a ground for making exception in the application of law, [THEREFORE] The way a society is ordered by law should not reflect any moral convictions about the way society ought to be ordered.
This is contradicting the premise, so I eliminate D.
E) The high courts have [...] treated moral beliefs [...] as a ground for making exception in the application of law, [THEREFORE] The best way to promote cooperation among a society's institutions, organizations, and citizenry is to institute order in that society by means of law.
This conclusion does not support the premise. Eliminate E.
So, I am left with A and C, both very close choices.
Some distinctions:
A is more general and soft. "They take it into account" but don't necessarily "protect" it. "Sometimes" vs. "tend to"
C is more specific and a step further than the premise. "Actions based on beliefs" vs. "the beliefs." "Highest courts" vs. "manner in which laws are applied."
I think it could probably come close to either answer, but I can see why A is the better answer choice. Namely because of the distinction in "actions based on beliefs" vs. "beliefs" and the softer use of "sometimes" vs. "tend to" (since the premise says this is an "exception in the application of laws" not the norm).
Hope that helps!