Argument 184 请拍 19还上战场了

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT184 - In the Bayhead Public Library, books that are rarely borrowed continue to take up shelf space year after year, while people who want to read a recent novel frequently find that the library's only copy is checked out. Clearly, the library's plan to replace books that are borrowed no more than once a year with sufficient copies of more recent books will solve this problem. The protest we have heard since this plan was made public has come from a small, and thus unrepresentative, group of some thirty people and so should therefore be ignored.
WORDS: 417
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2010-7-14 23:32:09


In this argument, the arguer concludes that to satisfy the need of reading more recent books, the library should replace the books that are
borrowed no more than once a year with sufficient copies of more recent books. To support the conclusion, the arguer points out that when people want to read a recent novel frequently find that the library's only copy is checked out. In addition, the arguer claims that we can ignore the protest from a small, because they can't represent the most people's opinions. The argument is fallacious in several aspects.


In the first place, the arguer fails to prove that the recent books in library can't satisfy the need of readers. The data that the readers often find no copy of recent books in library provided is open to question. Perhaps this circumstance is very rare, which will undermine the conclusion greatly. Even if the novels are not sufficient to satisfy the need of readers, there is no evidence to prove other kinds of books can't satisfy the need of residents.

In the second place, the arguer commits a fallacy of hasty generalization. The arguer fails to take into consideration the negative effect of replacing the old books. Perhaps the old books are valuable to the social works in local city, although they are rarely borrowed. If the books are replaced, the construction of the city may confront with more difficulties. At the same time, this action will decrease the kinds of books in library.


In the third place, the arguer overlooks the protest from a small group. Perhaps the members of this small group are famous professors and authorities in local academics. Their opinions should not be ignored, because their suggestions may have a great influence on the public. Their influence may result in rising attention to the issue, which lead to the unsatisfactory of public. These authorities may understand the real value of these old books, so their protests should not be neglected.

In the last, the arguer fails to rule out other ways to solve the problems. Perhaps we can enlarger the library to buy more recent books to meet the needs of residents.


In sum, the arguer fails to convince that the library should replace the old books to meet the needs of residents. We need more information about the real condition of the problems and the side effect of the advice to strengthen the conclusion. Also, we need information about other methods to solve the problems to better evaluate the recommendation.