Argument 38

leepmoUID: 2296903

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."


In the argument, the author advocates taking Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, to prevent colds and absenteeism, since colds are the most frequently used reason given for absence. To bolster the claim, the author cites the study reports that in nearby East Meria. While the author's fallacy lies in several aspects.

First of all, the author fails to provide enough evidences to establish the relationship between the facts eating more fish can prevent the people from colds. The author presents the data that people visit the doctors only once or twice for the treatment of colds. However, the author cannot make the assumption that people in East Meria have less colds since he fails to provides the statistic to show the frequency to visit the doctors for the treatment of colds of other people. Besides, it is possible that when people in East Meria catch colds, they prefer to stay at home instead of seeing the doctors. What's more, there is no cause-and-effect relationship between the consumption and the possibility of catching colds. Perhaps people in East Meria keep health by doing more sports or it is much warmer in East Meria. If so, the author cannot persuade to believe that eating more fish can prevent people from colds.

Secondly, even if taking more fish will prevent from cold, which is, of course, an unwarranted assumption, taking Ichthaid, something derived from fish oil, will also be helpful? There must be lots of difference between fish and Ichthaid. The author provides no evidence to make people believe that Ichthaid will be as helpful as the fish or even better. Even Ichthaid is as effective as the fish, the author should also present more information to show the advantages of Ichthaid to make people believe why they should prefer Ichthaid to fish.

Additionally, the author cites the fact that catching colds are most frequently used reason for absenteeisms, however, are all the people who give such excuse catch colds? It seems to only be an excuse given for the absences even they are not suffering in colds. The absences will not decrease even less people suffer from catching colds.

In summary, the argument is not well reasoned. To support the claim the taking more fish can prevent colds, the author should cites more evidences to show that people in East Meria have less colds. Besides, the author has to strength the relationship between eating fish and preventing colds. What's more, to lower the absenteeism the author need to find the actual reason why people are absent.