Argument38 ［加州阳光］第11次作业 sandy

sandyfriendUID: 157486

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: 554          TIME: 0:55:57          DATE: 2006-7-15

In this argument, the arguer claim that the lchthaid, which is a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, prevent the colds and reduce absenteeism in our school and workplaces. To justify his claim, the arguer point out that eating considersable mounts of fish will prevent colds and colds are the most reason for the absences of the school and work. In addition the arguer cites the evidence that people, who consume a lot of fish each years and live in the East Meria , have fewer frequently to see the doctors. Logical as it is, the argument, in careful examination, find out several critical fallacies and there fore unconvincing.

To begin with,   the arguer confuses the cause and effect between the colds and the absence of the school and workplace.  The argument can not provide sufficient information about their relationship. Maybe , there are other possibility that may affect the absence of the  school and workplace, such as the unattractive course  and boiling job ,the overload working and studying burdens and so on, all these condition may compel the students and people no willing to go to school and work. If the relationship does not exist, the argument is totally invalidity. Thus, the most important things the arguer should do are to justify the validity of the cause and effect relation of colds and absences.

In addition, the arguer commits the fallacy of fast-generalization.  The study reports provide the ideas that the more the people eating the fish, the less possibility to infect the colds.  Any method, which the man can keep health by, may have a larger likelihood to prevent colds; the more fish consumption certainly may be a reason, but not the only one.  it seems that the people in East Meria have a well customs of exercises, whatever  male and female , youth and olds, poor and rich,  all participate passionately in sports such as the football, badminton and running.  Another possibility for less cold infection may ascribe for the appropriate climate. The climate in East Meria may be mild and not clearly season transition which is also mainly reason for popularity of the colds. Hence, the arguer should present more detail in the study to support the claim.

Another fault that undermines the argument is that even if the fish consumption has the relation with the absence of the schools and workplace, it is not any materials derived from the fish preventing the colds.  Certainly, the arguer should justify that the lchthaid can be the effective supplement in fish oil for cold prevention.  Since no evidence shows in the argument, other material derived from the fish may be valid. For instance, the fish meat, containing many microelements, is the possible catholicon for prevention the colds. More information is needed to demonstrate that the validity of the lchthaid.

To sum up, the conclusion lacks credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis does not lend strong support to what arguer claims. To make the argument more convincing, the arguer would have to present more facts that the cause and effect relation between the colds and absence and the fish consumption and colds. To better evaluate the argument, we need more information concerning the validity of the lchthaid derived from the fish in preventing the colds.