ARGUMENT35 =August Rush=小组第6次作业 by wisle

wisleUID: 2578616

TOPIC: ARGUMENT35 - The following appearedin the summary of a study on headaches suffered by the residents of Mentia.

"Salicylates are members of the samechemical family as aspirin, a medicine used to treat headaches. Although manyfoods are naturally rich in salicylates, for the past several decadesfood-processing companies have also been adding salicylates to foods aspreservatives. This rise in the commercial use of salicylates has been found tocorrelate with a steady decline in the average number of headaches reported byparticipants in our twenty-year study. Recently, food-processing companies havefound that salicylates can also be used as flavor additives for foods. Withthis new use for salicylates, we can expect a continued steady decline in thenumber of headaches suffered by the average citizen of Mentia."
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The arguer build awell-grounded logical link between increasing use of Salicyates and thedecreasing headaches, by sucessive reasoning and a hypothesis that Salicyatescan treat headaches. However, it turns out that, if look critically, the feeblelink weakens the conclusion that the number of headaches will decline.

First, look atthis line of reasoning, a major suspicion of the hypothesis has blocked accessto the link. By insufficient evidences is it difficult to convince thatSalicyates treat headaches. It is reasonable to question that whetherSalicyates and aspirin, which is useful for headaches, are members of the samechemical family can illustrate that Salicyates are also useful for headaches.Of course not, the members in the same family would have different effects onthe same thing. Besides, even if the Salicyates are helpful for headaches,anther point worth pondering is that Salicyates existing in many food and preservativeshave the same effect on headache as single Salicyates. Perhaps, the Salicyatesin foods and preservatives have no use since other components in foods andpreservatives weaken and even counteract the use of Salicyates.

Moreover, possiblythe declining number of headaches is caused not by Salicyates, but thedecreasing hours of work, and increasing hours of exercising. For example, onewho works 8 hours a day with 2 hours exercising is less likely to suffer theheadache than one who works 10 hours per day without exercise. Insofar as theseconcerns can be eliminated, the reasoning is defensible.

Next, by lookingamong the line of reasoning, our attentions focus on the analysis of thedeclining headaches. Possibly correct though Salicyates remains to be effectivefor treating headaches, we can boldly speculate that whether the number ofheadaches will decline with the use for Salicyates. Maybe, as the morecompetitions in the further, the pressure and the increasing hours of work willleave no time to rest or exercise, so that the use of Salicyates cannotcounteract the effects from these factors. Consequently, the number ofheadaches will steady rise up instead of decreasing. Without furtherillustrations, the conclusion is crippling.

At last, eventhough we can forgo all the assumptions previously, that finding the new usefor Salicyates means increase the use of Salicyates is open to doubt. I cannothelp opining that although salicylates can also be used as flavor additives forfoods, the high cost will increase the price of products which frightens theprofits of the company. Thus the company will not use salicylates as flavoradditives. This assertion is a far cry from being proved.

Simply put, theevidences cited in this argument are not competent for this conclusion. Afterall, an incorrect conclusion will bring a unexpected loss rather than gain abig cake.