【big fish】2月26日Argument37---by Jenius

jenius4869UID: 2659821

argument37
Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been unique to the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat, but there is no evidence that the Paleans had boats. And boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared. Moreover, Paleans would have had no need to cross the river-the woods around Palea are full of nuts, berries, and small game. It follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea.


In this argument, the author concludes that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea for the reason that recently archaeologists discovered such a "Palean"
Basket in Lithos. By announcing that there is no boats and no need to cross the river between the two villages, the author assets that the Palean baskets is also owned by Lithos at least. For several logical fallacies, I cannot agree with the author.



The fundamental problem I want to remind the author is that the time during which the Lithos village existed has any overlaps with Palean. Without identifying the exact existent period of both villages, it is unfair to judge any conclusion about whether they could communicate with each other or not. It is entirely possible that if Lithos thrived thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared, thus they may across the river by boats since it has already being used at that time. Therefore, we cannot draw the conclusion since the author provides no evidence to substantiate that these villages existed at the time but merely supposes it.



Even if the two villages' existent periods have some overlap, the author's reasoning is also full of fallacious points. Firstly, as the author claims, the Brim River which divided these two villages is very broad and deep. In respect that there is no boats at that time, it is unlikely for Palean people reached Lithos. However, the common-sense tells us the geological condition is changing all the time, not even mention how huge the change would be during such a long period---from prehistory up untill now. It is likelihood the Brim River is not as broad and deep as today thousands of years ago. Thus the people could just swim across the rive without any transportation vehicles.



Another evidence provide by author is the woods around Pelean are full of nuts, berries, and small game, so it is unnecessary for them to cross the river. Given such an impartial view to this situation simply reveals the author still remains on the surface of the issue. There are many other possibilities which may motivate and urge the Pelean people to get another side of the river. For instance, the curiosity could play an important role in the behavior of humans which make them take a risk to cross the river that if did exist. Or perhaps there are more nuts and game available there which they want to possess. Without taking these explanations into consideration, the author's proposition cannot be taken seriously.



In conclusion, the author should provide more elaborate information about these two villages, including the period they existed, the general population, and background of them, thus we could be able to make persuasive inference about whether the Pelean basket is unique to Pelean people.


464 words.