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Group #3: Analysis of Argument
The following advice was given to a politician by his political consultant: "Mayor Switzer has been the mayor of Auburn for the last year and a half. In the last year, crime rates have gone up, unemployment has increased and many businesses have moved out of town. Voting mayor Switzer out will help solve Switzer’s crime problem, will help create jobs and will prevent businesses from having to move."
Describe how well reasoned you find this argument. In the discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the argument's conclusion. You may also address possible changes in the argument that would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
The consultant concludes that voting Mayor Switzer will help solve the crime problem and will help create jobs. The reasoning he gives is that during the last 18 months since Mayor Switzer has become the Mayor of Auburn, crime rates have gone up and unemployment has increased because many of the businesses have moved out. The consultant has made some strong assumptions and has made the argument sound illogical. It will be useful for the consultant to backup his reasoning with some facts and some extra information.
Firstly, the consultant assumes that the crime has gone up in the last year but doesn't provide any info on the trend for the past 3-5 years . Its possible that Mayor Switzer had drastically brought down the crime compared to what it was when he came in the office, but crime has gone back up again marginally but is still lower than before Mayor Switzer's term. Its also possible that the crime has gone up due to certain conditions that are out of control of the mayor's office. Its possible that there was some natural calamity and there are a lot of homeless people which are causing the crime rate to increase. The consultant needs to provide some information on why the crime has increased and whether there was something the Mayor could have done to control it.
secondly, the consultant also assumes that the Mayor's current policies or inactions have caused many of the businesses in Auburn to leave. Its possible that the companies moving out are having financial troubles and are closing down office country wide. Its also possible that some policies have been made by the Governor of the state in which Auburn is located that have caused these companies to close offices. The consultant needs to provide some details regarding the reasons that the business are moving out of Auburn.
In sum, the argument as is, is not strong. It will help the argument if the some of the above mentioned details are provided.
Thanks
Group #3: Analysis of Argument
The following advice was given to a politician by his political consultant: "Mayor Switzer has been the mayor of Auburn for the last year and a half. In the last year, crime rates have gone up, unemployment has increased and many businesses have moved out of town. Voting mayor Switzer out will help solve Switzer’s crime problem, will help create jobs and will prevent businesses from having to move."
Describe how well reasoned you find this argument. In the discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the argument's conclusion. You may also address possible changes in the argument that would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
The consultant concludes that voting Mayor Switzer will help solve the crime problem and will help create jobs. The reasoning he gives is that during the last 18 months since Mayor Switzer has become the Mayor of Auburn, crime rates have gone up and unemployment has increased because many of the businesses have moved out. The consultant has made some strong assumptions and has made the argument sound illogical. It will be useful for the consultant to backup his reasoning with some facts and some extra information.
Firstly, the consultant assumes that the crime has gone up in the last year but doesn't provide any info on the trend for the past 3-5 years . Its possible that Mayor Switzer had drastically brought down the crime compared to what it was when he came in the office, but crime has gone back up again marginally but is still lower than before Mayor Switzer's term. Its also possible that the crime has gone up due to certain conditions that are out of control of the mayor's office. Its possible that there was some natural calamity and there are a lot of homeless people which are causing the crime rate to increase. The consultant needs to provide some information on why the crime has increased and whether there was something the Mayor could have done to control it.
secondly, the consultant also assumes that the Mayor's current policies or inactions have caused many of the businesses in Auburn to leave. Its possible that the companies moving out are having financial troubles and are closing down office country wide. Its also possible that some policies have been made by the Governor of the state in which Auburn is located that have caused these companies to close offices. The consultant needs to provide some details regarding the reasons that the business are moving out of Auburn.
In sum, the argument as is, is not strong. It will help the argument if the some of the above mentioned details are provided.
