Argument38 小鸡快跑作文组 3.3

longxuUID: 2290268

TOPIC: ARGUMENT38 - The following memoappeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council.

"An innovative treatment has come toour attention that promises to significantly reduce absenteeism in our schoolsand workplaces. A study reports that in nearby East Meria, where fishconsumption is very high, people visit the doctor only once or twice per yearfor the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating a substantial amount of fish canprevent colds. Since colds are the reason most frequently given for absencesfrom school and work, we recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritionalsupplement derived from fish oil, as a good way to prevent colds and lowerabsenteeism."


Based on the evidence that fish can preventcold and cold is the frequent reason for absences from school and work, theargument draws the conclusion that people should eat more fish as a way toprevent colds and lower absenteeism. However, the assumptions about treatment andIchthaid have some critical problems.

First of all, the argument unfairly assumesthat colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school andwork. Yet, it is entirely possible that colds just are excuses for people toavoid work or classes. And, it is also possible that in that people who are illnot due to colds but other illness, such as headache, do not see the doctor,and they just take some pills or medicine which treats colds at home. Lackingthe persuasive evidence about what is the percentage of all people who areabsent from workspace or school, we cannot accept the conclusion of theargument which is not well founded.

Next point, the assumption which relies onthe evidence that nearby East Meria peoplevisit the doctor only once or twice per year seems logical but still cannot beinterpreted. Perhaps, the majority of people living nearby East Meria have a good health and they merely fall ill. Perhaps, thereare other local favorite foods which are of certain substance conducive to thehuman health. Thus, there are no enough evidence to support the assumption, ifthe argument cannot provide justifiable survey about people living nearby East Meria.

Admittedly, I concede that eating more fishcan prevent colds from people. But, the argument fails to take into account thepossible alternatives about the nutritional supplement derived from fish oil.With scant evidence about what is the supplementwhich produces influence to prevent the colds, the arguer cannot assume thatthe Ichthaid as the reason why the people nearby East Meria merely get colds.

To sum up, the argument is indeed logicalunsound with the existing evidence about the people nearby East Meria. To better assess it, I need to know: (1) whether colds arethe main reasons for the absenteeism;(2) whether body quality of the peopleliving nearby East Meria is at the averagelevel, and eating fish is the cause why they are prevented from colds;(3)whether Ichthaid, the nutritional supplement, is the effective substance in thefish oil.