argument38 【OB小组】第8次作业

xiao8686UID: 2266881

TOPIC: ARGUMENT38 - The following memo appeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council.

"An innovative treatment has come to our attention that promises to significantly reduce absenteeism in our schools and workplaces. A study reports that in nearby East Meria, where fish consumption is very high, people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds. Since colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work, we recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism."
WORDS: 598          TIME: 00:30:00+15          DATE: 2007-7-23 15:19:21

In this argument, the arguer makes the recommendation of the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement refined from fish oil as an effective way to prevent colds and to decrease absenteeism. To sustain the points, two facts are give.(1) A study showed the people in the nearby East Meria(E.M.) seldom visit the doctor per year for the treatment of cold.(2) The consumption of fish in that area is very high. Therefore, the arguer deduces the consumption of fish can prevent cold. Since, cold is the most frequently given reason  for absences from school and work, the daily use of Ichthaid, the supplement derived from fish can prevent cold and thereby decrease absenteeism. However, after close scrutiny, the argument is poorly reasoned and suffers from several critical flaws.

First of all, the arguer makes the fallacy of "A and B happen at the same time, A must be the reason of B". S/he groundlessly related the high consumption of fish to the scant treatments for cold in E.M. area. It is in all likelihoods that those two facts have no any causal relation at all. Perhaps, the reason why people do not catch cold in E.M. area is they have a healthy habit of morning exercise and thus maintain strong bodies. Or it maybe some other daily foods such certain kinds of vegetables or fruits that prevent people there from cold. In sum, the arguer arbitrarily concludes the consumption of fish is the reason why people barely catch cold without any further analysis.

Furthermore, the arguer lends no evidence to prove that cold is the real reason why people are absent from school and work frequently. The mere excuses given by absented people can hardly be reliable. It is utterly possible that people mask their absences with the sickness like cold while the actual reason of absenteeism maybe a movie, a date or mere laziness. As a matter of fact, unless there is a flu occurring, it is almost ridiculous to believe that people always catch cold and then be unable to go to school or work. In a nutshell, the seeming pleas for absenteeism given by people can not be strong enough to reveal that people indeed have cold and thereby can not go to school or work.

Finally, whether the daily use of Ichthaid will be effective or feasible should be discussed much more. Even the eating a large amount of fish can actually prevent cold which hypothetically is the real reason of people’s absences from school or work. The arguer still needs to collect more information to suggest that Ichithaid contains the effective components that prevent cold. Otherwise, consuming this nutritional supplement is of no effects at all. Moreover, other factors concerning the use of Ichithaid ought to be taken into account as well. For instance, if the price of this nutritional is exorbitant for the ordinary people to afford, the daily intake of it can not be feasible. Or, Ichithaid may contain other components which could cause allergy to certain people, in that case, such recommendation would not be viable as well. To summarize, the arguer can not convince me without providing more information to suggest actual preventive effects of Ichthaid and the feasibility of using it daily.

In conclusion, the argument is not persuasive as it stands. To make it more convincing, the arguer needs to collect more data and evidence to prove the actual causes of absenteeism is cold and Ichthaid is effective in preventing cold. Meanwhile, whether such supplement is suitable for everyone to the use daily also require further verification.