argument187 sunbird第一次作业

琼歌UID: 2378080

In this article the author recommends that all people in the United States increase their consumption of fish in order to prevent depression. To support this recommendation, the author points out the fact ancestors ate less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat, including omega-3 fatty acids, were less likely to suffer from depression than we are today. And also, he indicates that in Japan and Taiwan less depression cases is reported because of the large quantities consumption of fish. On the basis of these evidence the author infer omega-3 have the ability to prevent people against depressing, so that all people had best take more fish in American. This argument is logically flawed in several respects.

In the first place, the author provides no firm evidence that ours ancestors are less likely to suffer from depression. Maybe they are equally depressed, or even more than us. Also, no evidence is provided that our ancestors ate less saturated and more polyunsaturated fat-let alone the omega-3 acids-than we do today. Without such evidence, it makes no sense to draw any conclusion basis on this insecure assumption.

Even assuming that the ancestors are less likely to suffer from depression, it is unfairly to assume that this phenomenon is caused by the large ingestion of omega-3 acid. Perhaps our ancestors enjoy a slow and happy life, and they never hurry to meet the deadline of work, nor worry about water pollution. Since the author fails to rule out this and other possible explanations for this phenomenon, I cannot accept any conclusion about the omega-3 acids’ efficacy.

Moreover, the second illustration the author provide rely on a uncompleted compare. The United State is different from Japan or Taiwan in many respects. Perhaps the climate in the Japan and Taiwan is more comfortable and make the people feel easy. It is also possible that Americans themselves are easier to feel depressing than Japanese or Chinese for the different culture of the three societies. Besides, report depression rate is not sufficient enough to indicate anything. Maybe the Americans pay more attention to the mental healthy, and once they feel depressing, the will go to the doctor, while Japanese do not let others know.

Even if the omega-3 is indeed effective to prevent depression, it may go further to persuade all Americans take fish. Some people cannot afford the cost and some one may be sensitive to fish. Furthermore, more things we can do to keep away from depression, such as keep a good sense, doing exercises regularly, and keep away from working unduly.

In sum, the author fails to provide sufficient evidence that omega-3 is indeed beneficial for preventing from depression. And he/she also overlooks that other factors have effects to the metal healthy. Unless more evidence is provided, I cannot accept the recommendation that all American should increase the consumption of fish in order to prevent depression.


[ 本帖最后由 琼歌 于 2007-11-3 22:42 编辑 ]

hope~~UID: 2416007

也来占个座把!

Bellona0428UID: 2418798

写得很好啊~~~赞一个~~看起来很流畅~~

琼歌UID: 2378080

呵呵，花了三个小时，目前致力于缩短时间