argument162【FF小组】 by duyuan3377 第八次模考

duyuan3377UID: 2415765

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - 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.
WORDS: 388         TIME: 00:30:00          DATE: 2008-12-13 9:49:26

In the 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 point out that a recent study shows that people living in North America suffer more fatigue and depression than do people living in Asia because Asians eat 20 grams of soy per day. Although the recommendation sounds quite reasonable at first thought, yet a series of logical flaws might seriously undermine the argument.

First of all, the arguer unfairly establishes a causal relationship between chronic fatigue and depression and the habit of eating soy. But there is no guarantee that this is the case, nor does the arguer prove any evidence to substantiate the assumption. It is entirely possible that the pace of living in North America is more prompt and pushing than that in Asia. So it might be the pressure that leads to the result not because of the habit of eating soy. Or perhaps, the differences of body condition between people in North America and people in Asia make the former ones more prone to suffer from fatigue and depression. Without considering and ruling out these and other possibilities, the arguer cannot convince me to accept his recommendation.  

In addition, although soy contains a kind of phytochemicals possessing disease-preventing properites, it cannot prove that this kind of chemical is effective for chronic fatigue and depression. The arguer fails to provide any information to prove the function of isoflavones. Without better evidence to support, the arguer cannot draw any firm conclusion.

Last but not least, the arguer commits a fallacy of "false analogy" between people from North America and Asia. The arguer simply assumes that the effective method from Asians might not be applicable to people in North American, nor does he provide no evidence to prove that they are comparable. The differences between two kinds of people might outweigh the similarities. It is highly possible that an effective way for Asians is no more effective for North Americans. So the arguer cannot rely on the false analogy to support his argument.

To sum up, the argument lacks credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis does not lend strong support to what the arguer maintains.