Weaken and Its Examples for CLAT - Practice Questions & MCQ

Understanding Weakening an Argument:

• Weakening an argument is about identifying the weaknesses, flaws, or counterarguments within an argument and making it less convincing.
• You need to evaluate the strength of an argument or conclusion by finding ways to make it less convincing. 
• This involves spotting vulnerabilities in the argument and exploiting them by introducing contradictory evidence or alternative explanations.

Components of Weakening an Argument:

Identify the Main Argument:

• Start by understanding the central claim or conclusion that the argument is making. This is the target you want to weaken.

Identify Weaknesses or Assumptions:

• Carefully examine the argument and look for weaknesses, assumptions, or areas where evidence is lacking. These are the points you'll want to challenge.

Introduce Contradictory Evidence or Reasoning:

• Choose the option that provides information or reasoning that directly contradicts or weakens the main argument. This evidence should create doubt or uncertainty about the argument's validity.

Examples:
Let's explore some detailed examples to illustrate how this works:

Example 1:

• Argument: "Increasing the speed limit on highways will reduce traffic accidents."
• Weakness: The argument assumes that higher speed limits lead to fewer accidents.
• Weakening Option: "States that have raised speed limits on highways have seen an increase in accident rates."In this case, the weakening option introduces evidence that directly contradicts the argument, making it less convincing.

Example 2:

• Conclusion: "The company's decision to cut employee benefits will improve its financial stability."
• Weakness: The conclusion assumes that cutting employee benefits alone will lead to financial stability.
• Weakening Option: "Other companies that reduced employee benefits faced decreased employee morale, leading to decreased productivity."Here, the weakening option provides an alternative explanation that weakens the conclusion by suggesting negative consequences.

Example 3:

• Argument: "Expanding the public transportation system will reduce traffic congestion."
• Weakness: The argument assumes that investing in public transportation alone will solve traffic congestion.
• Weakening Option: "Increased investment in public transportation has not always resulted in decreased traffic congestion."This option introduces a counterexample that weakens the argument by showing that the proposed solution may not always work.

Strategies for Weakening Arguments

• Identify Assumptions: Look for hidden assumptions in the argument. These are often the points you need to challenge to weaken the argument.
• Provide Contradictory Evidence: Choose options that introduce evidence or reasoning that directly contradicts the argument's main points.
• Evaluate the Strength of the Weakening Option: Ensure that the weakening option significantly weakens the argument rather than offering a minor doubt.
• Beware of Strengthening Options: Avoid choices that inadvertently make the argument stronger.
• Consider Alternative Explanations: Sometimes, the weakening option may provide alternative explanations for the argument's claims.