Issue31 / Argument187【0806G-Sunbird小组】第一次作业

toumingsenlinUID: 2344846

TOPIC: ISSUE31 - "Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are controversial."
WORDS: 539          TIME: 01:00:00          DATE: 2007-11-2 16:29:54

Why does the idea of investing in scientific research loom so large in the modern world? Surely because benefits of scientific studis are actually taking place around us and becoming more and more manifest. Although mankind has undergone general  improvements in technology, we still can not overlook those futile or even harmful exploration consuming our ecomonic resources.Generally speaking, money spending on research in a good investment. Nevertheless, for those reserach without clear purpose or even threathen human's interests, we risk squandering resources.

Admittedly, research is the exploration of the unknown for true answers to our questions. Modern civilization is not a result of a balanced development of all men's nature but of explorations for another unknown world that lies beyond. In this way, we have learned all that we know of the laws of astronomy,or of the habits of the social insects. Scientific research is not a business that can be undertaken in several days or months. We have to undergo a long and painful process before the vivifying fruits can be at hand when needed. At first, a blurred image appears in front of the scientist. Then he adds a brush stroke and another. Sometimes the image is gone, but something was there, and the scientist will not rest till he has captured it. Convinced the importance and difficulties of scientific study, modern governments invest in different kinds of institution. On the whole, the search for what the world really contains is worthwhile. But I still take leave to doubt in some respects.

On the one hand, we should be alert about research whose objectives are too vague and whose potential benefits are too speculative.Let's get down to Star War plan in the USA which arouses great interests at the time. Unfortunately, it had not make any general improvment but brought about financial deficit for the whole country. This fancing plan increased the expense of government, reduced correspondingly the resources that could be used for developing the country. In 2004, President Bush avowed that humans should head into the cosmos. While according to an Associated press poll, only half the American public supports. In modern time, there are much more important things waiting for us to explore rather than lay hands on moon: feeding hungry children in African, inventing new cures for AIDS, Stopping global arming and etc.

On the other hand,once the research threatens interestes of people, we should prohibit it just like developing skills of clone humans and nuclear weapon. For the former,the claimer might insist that this technology can cure birth defects and prevent many diseases. However, it is more likely to be used for wealthy elite to produce superior offsprings which will widen the scioeconomic gap and result in the creation of master race. For the latter, nucleare weapon is still a nightmare for survivors in Hiroshima.That is why
Einstein used half of his life to protest nuclear energy used in military affairs.If the ultimate objective of a reseach is to shatter men's body , it is absolutely unworthy to concentrate on it.

Scientific research let us know more about the nature and ourselves, close the distance between ourselves and primitive. However, for those projects which do not have clear goals and meanful results, we should be careful to invest becasue it should be forgetten how precious those ecomonic resources are in a country.


TOPIC: ARGUMENT187 - The following appeared as part of an article in a health magazine.

"A new discovery warrants a drastic change in the diets of people living in the United States. Two scientists have recently suggested that omega -3 fatty acids (found in some fish and fish oils) play a key role in mental health. Our ancestors, who ate less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat, including omega -3 fatty acids, were much less likely to suffer from depression than we are today. Moreover, modern societies-such as those in Japan and Taiwan-that consume large quantities of fish report depression rates lower than that in the United States. Given this link between omega -3 fatty acids and depression, it is important for all people in the United States to increase their consumption of fish in order to prevent depression."
WORDS: 527          TIME: 01:06:45          DATE: 2007-11-2 18:40:45

In this argument the author reaches a conslusion that all pepole in America have to increase their consumption of fish to promise taking in certian omega-3 fatty acid in order to prevent depression. The basis for the recommendation is that the diet of our ancestors includeing omega-3 fatty acids results in low depresssion rate than modern Americans. An additional reason given in support of the recommendation is that less people in Japan and Taiwan suffer from depression because of fish diet which contains omega-3 fatty acids. A careful examination of the argument would reveal how groundless the conclusion is.

The major problem with this arguement is the unwarranted assumption that omega-3 fatty acids is the only element in solving depression for our ancestors. To establish a general causal relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and modern depression, other factors should be considered and eliminated. For example, pressure increases with the passing of time.Our ancestor did not live in a hurry which in our society often hampers the full development of our growing personality. They were not confroned with disabilities to buy an education for their children. But modern people are different. We are always worrying about job, salary and fame. In addition, living in a polluted environmens also aggravates the strain of mental effort. Whether these mental sick caused by non-existent element in ancient country can be cured by omega-3 fattcy acids still open to doubt.The author's failture to investigate or even consider these possibilities renders the conclusion based upon it hightly suspect.

Additionally, the arguer fails to rule out the possibility that makes people in Japan and Taiwan to be away from the depression. While fish may be an important factor in preventing depression, it is hardly the only one. Other elements or factors which can alleviate or cure depression should be considerated. Perhaps the climate close to the sea benefit the disease. Or perhaps the healthy life style. To my certain knowledge, there are some similarities between Japanese and people in Taiwan. Both of them never eat too much during a meal in order to keep fresh. Nutrition balance is the most important feature of their dinner. In short, without ruling out other possible explanation for comparatively low rate of depression in these two areas, author can not justifiablly conclude that omega-3 fattey acids from fish were the cause of preventing depression.

Finally, the argument omits several other concerns that should be addressed. The argument assumes that the effectiveness of fish in the specific members reflects the general adaptability of all people in the USA. Yet , the author fails to offer any evidence to substantiate this crucial assumption. Absent such evidence, it is just as likely that for allergic people,fish may produce side effect.  For that matter, advertising fish diet would be dangerous. Without showing that omega-3 fatty acids are safe to those people who is allergic to fish,author can not convince me to increase fish consumption all over the country.

In conslusion, the author fails to validate the conclusion that fish benefit the people's depression. To solidify the argument, the author should provide more concrete evidence to prove that our ancestor had the same mental state caused by same factors as  modern people. In addition, the author would have to rule out the abovementioned possibilities that would undermine the author's claim.

norman518UID: 188582

有机会一定来侃侃

强夫UID: 2156262

很好了，如果不超时完成我估计至少4.5+了。唯一让人失望的就是主体部分很好的语言，没有模版化的语言但是到最后一段又有模版了，让人遗憾。。。

希望看看我的也多指正

Bellona0428UID: 2418798

In this argument the author reaches a conclusion that all people in America have to increase their consumption of fish to promise taking in certain omega-3 fatty acid in order to prevent depression. The basis for the recommendation is that the diet of our ancestors including omega-3 fatty acids results in low depression rate than modern Americans. An additional reason given in support of the recommendation is that less people in Japan and Taiwan suffer from depression because of fish diet which contains omega-3 fatty acids. A careful examination of the argument would reveal how groundless the conclusion is.

The major problem with this argument is the unwarranted assumption that omega-3 fatty acids is the only element in solving depression for our ancestors. To establish a general causal relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and modern depression, other factors should be considered and eliminated[是不是应该是not be eliminated]. For example, pressure increases with the passing of time. Our ancestor did not live in a hurry which in our society often hampers the full development of our growing personality. They were not confronted with disabilities to buy an education for their children. [现在的美国人应该也不会面临这个问题把，这里没有搞清楚recommendation 的对象] But modern people are different. We are always worrying about job, salary and fame. In addition, living in a polluted environments

[environment是不可数名词把] also aggravates the strain of mental effort. Whether these mental sick caused by non-existent element in ancient country can be cured by omega-3 fatty acids still open to doubt. The author's failure to investigate or even consider these possibilities renders the conclusion based upon it highly suspect.

Additionally, the arguer fails to rule out the possibility that makes people in Japan and Taiwan to be away from the depression. While fish may be an important factor in preventing depression, it is hardly the only one. Other elements or factors which can alleviate or cure depression should be considerate. Perhaps the climate close to the sea benefits the disease[the disease改成relaxing the mental stress会不会好一点]. Or perhaps the healthy life style. To my certain knowledge, there are some similarities between Japanese and people in Taiwan. Both of them never eat too much during a meal in order to keep fresh. Nutrition balance is the most important feature of their dinner. In short, without ruling out other possible explanation for comparatively low rate of depression in these two areas, the author can not justifiably conclude that omega-3 fatty acids from fish were the cause of preventing depression.

Finally, the argument omits several other concerns that should be addressed. The argument assumes that the effectiveness of fish in the specific members reflects the general adaptability of all people in the USA. [但本人觉得前面用个让步会不会好一点Even if fish plays a key role in preventing depression,因为在这个观点以上的几点都是基于fish is not the vital factor]Yet, the author fails to offer any evidence to substantiate this crucial assumption. Absent such evidence, it is just as likely that for allergic people, fish may produce side effect.  For that matter, advertising fish diet would be dangerous. Without showing that omega-3 fatty acids are safe to those people who is allergic to fish, author can not convince me to increase fish consumption all over the country.

In conclusion, the author fails to validate the conclusion that fish benefit the people's depression. To solidify the argument, the author should provide more concrete evidence to prove that our ancestor had the same mental state caused by same factors as modern people. In addition, the author would have to rule out the abovementioned possibilities that would undermine the author's claim.

总体感觉：北美研究的好透阿 ~~~信手拈来就是这么完整的逻辑思维语言，榜样阿~~~ 有改的不对的地方请多多包涵和指正。

重要一点噢：好多单词打错了噢，有笔误也有单复数的问题 ！

                                                                                              -----------------by Bellona

[ 本帖最后由 Bellona0428 于 2007-11-3 14:17 编辑 ]