argument188 【1106G】gelivable小组 第3次作业

luohuiroseUID: 2995407

In this argument the author willy-nilly assert that researches should reevaluate  the effect of all medications on men versus women.To strengthen the assertion,the author notes a study in which researchers administered the same dosage of Kappa opioids to some men and women whose wisdom teeth were just removed,then found that women feel much less pain than men,and the pain lasted shorter than men.The study followed by a conclusion that Kappa opioids should be prescribed for women when painkiller is repuired.At first glance,the assertion seems to be appealing,while clearly examining the reasoning,we may find that it is unconvincing.The reasoning contains some facts which are questionable.

First of all,the author's evidences are insufficient to support the conclusion.Obviously,the author does not provide enough informaition on the subjects of the survey,except for they were having their wisdom teeth extracted.Moreover,we were told nothing about the way the survey was conducted and how well it represented the genaral cases.If this group of respondents only stands for a tiny proportion of the whole patients,we should not be so sure about the conclusion that Kappa opioids should be prescribed for women specificly when needed.This survey only carried out among 28 men and 20 women who were having their wisdom teeth extracted,but the arguer aplies its result to all male and female patients while does not show us whether these patients are representative ones.The study revealed,on average,only a small statistical correlation between gender and the effect of the painkiller.One specific example can not generate the general conclusion.Thereby,facing such limited evidence,the conclusion is unwarranted.

Secondly,the author makes an oversimplified analogy between the small group respondents and all patients.In most instances,this is an unwarrant assumption for the simple reason that things rarely remain the same over extened range of people.As we know,many factors should be taken into the consideration,such as the distribution of the age,the race and the career of the participants in the study.

In addition,the author commits "after this,and therefore because of this" fallacy.The casual relationship between the cause of administering the same dosage of Kappa opioids to some 28 men and 20 women patients and the  effect that women reported much less pain and the easing of pain lasted considerably shorter than men is unwarranted.Even if I concede that the less and shorter pain has been proved as a result of Kappa opioids,which is,of course,an unwarranted assumption,it does not follow that the effect of all medications on men versus women should be reevaluated.This is a fallacious reasoning unless the author can give affirmative evidences to rule out any othor possibilities.

To sum up,this argument lacks of credibility.Regardless who the arthor is,he or she has overlooked or chosen to ignore many respects of his or her conclusion.To strengthen the conclusion,the author should prove more pursuasive evidences about the above-mentioned possibilities.