First, the argument assumes that depression and fatigue are just as readily diagnosed in
Asia as in North America. However, it is entirely possible that Asians suffering from these
problems do not complain about them or otherwise admit them. For that matter, perhaps Asian
medical doctors view certain symptoms which North Americans would consider signs of
fatigue and depression as signs of some other problem.
Secondly, the argument assumes that the difference in soy consumption is the only possible
explanation for this disparity in the occurrence of fatigue and depression. Yet the argument
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fails to substantiate this assumption. Common sense informs me that any one of a myriad of
other differences---environmental, dietary, and genetic--might explain why North Americans
suffer from these problems to a greater extent than Asians do. Without considering and ruling
out alternative reasons for this disparity, the argument’s conclusion that soy is the key to the
disparity is indefensible.
Thirdly, the argument unfairly infers from the fact that soy is known to possess disease
preventing properties that these properties help prevent fatigue and depression specifically.
The argument supplies no evidence to substantiate this assumption. Moreover, whether
fatigue and depression are appropriately classified as diseases in the first place is
questionable.
Finally, even if the properties in soy can be shown to prevent fatigue and depression, the
argument unfairly assumes that eating soy is the only means of ingesting the key substances.
It is entirely possible that these same properties are found in other forms, and therefore that
North Americans need not increase soy consumption to help prevent fatigue and depression.In sum, the argument is dubious at best. Before I can accept its conclusion, the argument’s
proponent must provide better evidence that people in Asia in fact suffer less from fatigue and
depression than North Americans do. To better evaluate the argument I would need to know
what kinds of diseases the properties of soy are known to help prevent, and whether they
relate at all to fatigue and depression. I would also need to know what other foods contain the
same properties as soy--to determine what alternatives, if any, are available for preventing
fatigue and depression.
Argument 51
The following is taken from the editorial section of the local newspaper in Rockingham.
"In order to save a considerable amount of money, Rockingham’s century-old town hall should
be torn down and replaced by the larger and more energy-efficient building that some citizens
have proposed. The old town hall is too small to comfortably accommodate the number of
people who are employed by the town. In addition, it is very costly to heat the old hall in winter
and cool it in summer. The new, larger building would be more energy efficient, costing less
per square foot to heat and cool than the old hall. Furthermore, it would be possible to rent out
some of the space in the new building, thereby generating income for the town of
Rockingham."
This editorial condudes that the town of Rockingham would save money by replacing its old
town hall with a larger, more energy-efficient one. To support the argument the editorial’s
author cites the need for a larger building to comfortably accommodate employees, and the
fact that the proposed building would cost less per cubic foot to heat and cool than the current
building would. However, the editorial is unconvincing for several reasons.
First of all, even though it would cost less per cubic foot to heat and cool the new building,
because the new building would be larger the total cooling and heating costs might actually be
greater than they are now. Add to this possibility the initial cost of replacing the structure, and
in all likelihood the new building would not save money for the town. Besides, the argument
ignores other, potentially less expensive, means of reducing current heating and cooling
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costs--for example, retrofitting the building with a new climate control system.
Secondly, the editorial relies partly on the fact that the current building cannot comfortably
accommodate all the people who work in it. However, this fact in itself is irrelevant to whether
the town would save money by replacing the building. Besides, the editorial ignores other,
potentially less expensive, solutions to the current comfort problem--for example, adding an
annex to the current structure.Thirdly, the editorial relies partly on the assertion that the town could generate income by
renting out part of a larger new building. However, the author equivocates here--on the one
hand claiming that a larger building is needed because the old one is too small to
accommodate employees, while on the other hand proposing that the additional space not be
used to solve this problem. The use of conflicting evidence to support the same conclusion
renders the argument wholly unpersuasive.
In conclusion, the editorial is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen the assertion that a
new building would save the town money, the editorial’s author must provide a detailed
analysis comparing the cost of cooling and heating the current hall to the anticipated cost of
cooling and heating the new hall. In this analysis, the author must factor in the initial cost of
replacing the old hall, as well as the additional rental income that the larger hall might generate.
Finally, the author must choose between two competing objectives: creating a more spacious
environment for current employees or creating a larger hall for the purpose of generating rental
income.
Argument 52
Claitown University needs both affordable housing for its students and a way to fund the
building of such housing. The best solution to this problem is to commission a famous architect
known for experimental and futuristic buildings. It is common knowledge that tourists are
willing to pay money to tour some of the architect’s buildings, so it can be expected that
tourists will want to visit this new building. The income from the fees charged to tourists will
soon cover the building costs. Furthermore, such a building will attract new students as well as
donations from alumni. And even though such a building will be much larger than our current
need for student housing, part of the building can be used as office space.