An argument against affirmative action notes that it conflicts with which principles?

• A. Fairness and equality.
• B. Property rights.
• C. National security.
• D. Free speech.

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is how arguments about affirmative action clash with fairness and equality. Opponents say that giving advantages to people based on group identity leads to unequal treatment of individuals, which they view as unfair and contrary to the principle that everyone should be treated equally in opportunities and rights. That’s why this option best fits the critique.

The other possibilities don’t fit as the central concern. Property rights focus on owning and controlling resources, which isn’t the core clash in debates over affirmative action. National security and free speech are also not the primary principles invoked in the common critique; they might come up in different legal or policy contexts, but fairness and equality are the central framework for this argument.