The decline of Western civilization exactly parallels the increasing use of money as a substitute for things of intrinsic value
→
Money causes a civilization to decline
Here we have a typical correlation/causation issue. We could do a few things to weaken this argument. We could (1) provide an alternative explanation; (2) instead show that civilization's decline causes money to be used - though that probably wouldn't happen; (3) show the same cause with an opposite effect.
Now one thing to notice here is a slight scope shift. In the premise, we talked about "the use of money as a substitute for things of intrinsic value." In the conclusion, we talk about "the use money," period. However, unless I am mistaken (someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong), going from a narrow scope in the premise to a wider scope in the conclusion isn't something that is hazardous to reasoning. After all, the wider scope of "using money" includes "using money" for a certain thing. If it were the other way then we would have some problems but for right now there isn't much to think about here.
- (A) That's great! But does or doesn't the use of money cause a civilization to decline?
(B) This is simple. Yet simple is also good here. It provides an analogous situation in which there is the same cause (using money) without the same effect (decline in civilization). That is, eastern cultures used money → ~decline. This definitely weakens! One thing to note here. One may ask, "is this an analogous situation? Can we compare Eastern and Western cultures?" Sometimes we cannot. In this case, we definitely can. Why? Because the conclusion is merely that money causes a civilization to decline. It is a very blanket statement. It is not talking about particular civilizations or anything like that so we need not worry.
(C) This might actually strengthen a tiny bit. Why? Because it shows how the use of money causes a civilization to decline: money encourages a disregard for a work's value. Maybe this means something about how "work" is perceived and if the value of "work" is declining, then maybe this would cause civilization to decline too. There isn't a reason to go into such detail (the clock is ticking!) but either way this definitely doesn't weaken!
(D) "Rate of exchange?" Give me a break. Where's this talk of civilization?
(E) So what? I don't see how this relates to civilization.