argument162--有拍必回拍

emteddybearUID: 2699606

162.A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North
America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic
depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly,
Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans
eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called
isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing
properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular
basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
Analysis：
conclusion：North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression
Evidence: 1. North Americans suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31times more chronic depression than Asians
2. Asians eat 20 g/day soy, where North Americans eat none.
3. Soy contains P can prevent disease
条理：
1.
evidence3àimply1 P can prevent chronic fatigue and chronic depression
2.
evidence2+imply1àimply2(evidence 1)
3.
imply2à conclusion
In this argument, the arguer recommends that North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression. To support the recommendation, the arguer cites that Asians eat 20 grams of soy per day on average, while North Americans eat none, and that soy contains phytochemicals which can prevent disease, that a recent study shows that North Americans suffer more chronic fatigue and chronic depression than Asians, which sounds reasonable. But there are some critical flaws which cannot make me convinced.

Firstly, I would examin that whether North Americans suffer more chronic fatigue and chronic depression than Asians, because unlike feverishness which can be diagnosed by body temperature, there is no international standard about the degree of chronic depression and chronic fatigue. People in different places may have different feelings about depression and fatigue. It is entirely possible that when North Americans feel fatigue, Asians are unaware of it. If we want to make some comparisons between North Americans and Asians about depression and fatigue, we must unify standards.

Secondely, the assertion that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones which can prevent disease is unreliable. For one thing, there is no evidence to warrant this assertion, and what about the negative effect about this substance? It possibly has more negative than positive influences to eat soy every day. For another, even if we concede that isoflavones can prevent disease, there is no information to point out what kind of disease isoflavones can prevent. Perhaps it just can take precautions against mild cold, but do nothing about chronic depression and fatigue. In addition, the author ignores the different constitutions between North Americans and Asians. It is not necessary that eating soy can help North Americans preventing depression and fatigue, as it do for Asians.

Finally, common sense says that diet only does a very small part of effects for preventing depression and fatigue. Ordinarily, such kind of chronic diseases are leaded by people's occupations, habits and so on. Assuming that if someone is a surgeon, he/she must suffers more depression than ticket seller. And for surgeons, this situation may be not improved only by eating soy. Similarly if North Americans suffer too much chronic depress and fatigue just as the arguer says, there will be no apparent effect only by eating soy.

As it stands, the argument is not well reasoned. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to provide more evidences to demonstrate that North Americans suffer more chronic depression and chronic fatigue than Asians, and that isoflavones contained by soy can take precautions against chronic depression and chronic fatigue indeed.