Argument:
"Users of Solacium, a medicinal herb now grown mainly in Asia, report that it relieves tension and promotes deep sleep. A recent study indicates that a large number of college students who took pills containing one of the ingredients in Solacium suffered less anxiety. To satisfy the anticipated demands for this very promising therapeutic herb and to reap the financial benefits, farmers in this country should begin growing it."
RESPONSE:
The author claims that Solacium, a medicinal herb planted mainly in Asia relieves stress. The statement then says that a vast majority of college students who took tablets containing one of the ingredients in Solacium appeared to be calmer. From this the author deduces and an unjustified inference that farmers should begin growing this medicinal herb.
However, the author does not take into account that his example may violate the "representativeness principle": a large number of students who took pills cannot be regarded as representatives of all people. The fact that medicinal herb had a positive impact on college students does not warrant the assumption that Solacium can tranquilize all people who need it.
Secondarily, the author mentions that the pills taken contained "one of the ingredients". It is very likely that not exactly that ingredient, but other substances and factors affected positively students. Furthermore, it might be placebo effect, too: students who took part in experiment may exhibit less anxiety not because of Solacium, but only because they wanted to appear calmer; thus, the cause-effect relationship assumed by the author can be violated.
Therefore it is essential that the author would provide information about many categories of people, not just about college students. Moreover she had to rule out the possibility that only that ingredient mentioned in the passage, not other factors calmed down students. Thus, taken into consideration that the author's conclusion is precipitate and unwarranted we cannot say "yes" to his proposal.
"Users of Solacium, a medicinal herb now grown mainly in Asia, report that it relieves tension and promotes deep sleep. A recent study indicates that a large number of college students who took pills containing one of the ingredients in Solacium suffered less anxiety. To satisfy the anticipated demands for this very promising therapeutic herb and to reap the financial benefits, farmers in this country should begin growing it."
RESPONSE:
The author claims that Solacium, a medicinal herb planted mainly in Asia relieves stress. The statement then says that a vast majority of college students who took tablets containing one of the ingredients in Solacium appeared to be calmer. From this the author deduces and an unjustified inference that farmers should begin growing this medicinal herb.
However, the author does not take into account that his example may violate the "representativeness principle": a large number of students who took pills cannot be regarded as representatives of all people. The fact that medicinal herb had a positive impact on college students does not warrant the assumption that Solacium can tranquilize all people who need it.
Secondarily, the author mentions that the pills taken contained "one of the ingredients". It is very likely that not exactly that ingredient, but other substances and factors affected positively students. Furthermore, it might be placebo effect, too: students who took part in experiment may exhibit less anxiety not because of Solacium, but only because they wanted to appear calmer; thus, the cause-effect relationship assumed by the author can be violated.
Therefore it is essential that the author would provide information about many categories of people, not just about college students. Moreover she had to rule out the possibility that only that ingredient mentioned in the passage, not other factors calmed down students. Thus, taken into consideration that the author's conclusion is precipitate and unwarranted we cannot say "yes" to his proposal.
