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QUESTION 7 Evaluate the following extended argument. Identify the main problem...
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QUESTION 7
Evaluate the following extended argument. Identify the main problem(s) with the argument, explain why they are problems, and clearly state whether you think the argument provides a compelling reason to accept the conclusion. You may find it useful to put the argument into standard form and to draw an argument map but you should only submit your written evaluation. You may use the following template as a guide to structuring your response.
Paragraph 1: First sentence: Say what the conclusion of the argument is and whether the argument provides a good reason for accepting it. Second sentence: Say how many major problems/issues you’re going to discuss. Body Paragraph(s): [repeat for each issue you discuss] First sentence: Say what the problem is. Next sentence(s): Explain why it is a problem for the argument. Final sentence(s): Say what would need to be established for the argument to be successful. / Explain how, with minor adjustments this problem can be overcome. |
(25 marks)
Are Julian Assange and WikiLeaks really doing anything that unusual? After all, leaks are a legitimate part of contemporary journalism; nobody objects when cabinet discussions are leaked during a general election for example. The diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks were first given to the mainstream press, who vetted the documents for sensitive or risky information. WikiLeaks only published the edited cables. WikiLeaks even asked the US State Department for help editing risky documents, a practice common when the press deals with classified material. WikiLeaks is therefore legitimate journalism, which makes recent actions by the U.S. government particularly disturbing.
The U.S government has clearly been trying to remove corporate support for WikiLeaks. Amazon.com, which was hosting WikiLeaks for a short time, dropped its account when the company received calls from staff of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security: asking “Are there plans to take the site down?” Another company, Tableau, which was providing software for WikiLeaks to visualise the data, was also contacted by congressional staff. They severed their relationship with the site too. Visa, Mastercard and Paypal have all followed suit, banning donations to WikiLeaks.
These political attempts to choke WikiLeaks’ funding and foundations are a clear breach of freedom of the press. No matter how new the medium, it is an absolute and fundamental infringement of free speech when a government tries to gag a media outlet it doesn’t like.
Adapted from ‘The Weight of the Word’, by Chris Berg, published in The Age newspaper, December 2010.
Chris Berg is a research fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs.