Final answer:
The correct answer is d) Planning and directing society. Functionalism views the main purposes of government as maintaining law and order, meeting social needs, and equally distributing resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is d) Planning and directing society.
Functionalism is a sociological theory that examines society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order. According to functionalism, the main purposes of government are to maintain law and order, meet social needs, and equally distribute resources. However, planning and directing society is not one of functionalism's main purposes of government.
For example, in a functionalist perspective, a government's role in maintaining law and order involves enacting and enforcing laws that protect citizens and prevent crime. Meeting social needs refers to providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and social welfare programs to ensure the well-being of the population. Equally distributing resources means ensuring that resources such as wealth, opportunities, and public goods are fairly distributed among society.