The Movie Merry XXX-Mas - Assignment Example

Argument 1

The movie, Merry XXX-mas, would be shocking for the average teenager to see because it contains coarse language and nudity.

Statement form

P1. Merry XXX-mas is a movie.

P2. The movie, Merry XXX-mas contains scenes of coarse language and nudity

MP3. Movies with coarse language and nudity shocks average teenagers.

Critique

Average teenagers have a wide range of preferences that are not narrowed to a similar understanding. This implies that their preference is not governed by similar principles. Therefore, the premise that concludes they will be shocked by the language and nudity of the movie is erroneous. Subsequently, may even be enjoying such scenes since it is not clear whether they dislike the scenes. Therefore, the final conclusion implying that the movie will shock average teenagers is, thus, not fully supported (Searle, 2001).

 Argument 2

Betsy's dating a man 20 years younger, and so far as I'm concerned, that's just wrong Nature never intended it.

Statement form

P1. Betsy is dating

P2. Betsy is 20 years older than the man he is dating

MP3. Nature does not allow older women to date younger men

P4. Things that nature never intended are wrong

Critique

The premise that points to nature not favoring older women to date young men, is not fully supported. It is based on assumptions that are not clearly indicated. This cannot be utilized to discredit Betsy’s dating trend. Subsequently, nature cannot attest to the fact that it has things it does not attest to. Therefore, the argument depends on unconfirmed assumptions to steer toward its interest. This implies that the argument lacks a clear ground for establishing the contrary opinion and instead seeks to utilize unsupported assumptions as a premise for supporting its conclusion (Barnes, 2003).

Argument 3

I'm glad you all took the time to meet with me today, given the current crisis with Mrs. Brown, Clearly, she is an unfit parent. Mrs. Brown refuses to give her children vitamin pills. Therefore, she ignores the basic health needs of her children. And anybody who ignores the basic health needs of her children is unfit to parent.

P1. Mrs. Brown has children

P2. Unfit parents ignore the basic health needs of their children

MP3. Vitamin pills are part of the basic health needs of a child

P4. Mrs. Brown refuses to give her children Vitamin pills

P5. Mrs. Brown is an unfit parent

Critique

The premise places into the contest the definition of basic health needs. Apparently, it is not clear from the argument why vitamin pills are included in the category of basic health needs. This implies that there exists a list of elements that are identified as basic health needs, of which Vitamin pills are included. Unfortunately, this information is not included in the argument. This makes the argument founded on grounds that are comprised of assumptions. The argument seeks to assume that the audience upon which the statement is directed is aware of the elements that formulate basic health needs. This discredits its final conclusion (Searle, 2001).

Tree diagram

P2______________MP3

V

V

P1

V

V

P4

V

V

P5

Argument 4

Sasha, the American exchange student, wants us to join an organization, Humanity International (HI), which supports justice and humanitarian goals worldwide. However, I'd submit that this is not a good idea. HI is opposed to the death penalty. Therefore, the organization must advocate a "soft on crime" ideology (in favor of light sentences for murderers, rapists, and other violent offenders). Therefore, it endorses an ideology that leads to unsafe societies. Therefore, it is best not to join this organization.

P1. Sasha is an American exchange student.

P2. Sasha wants us to join Humanity International (HI)

P3. HI opposes the death penalty and instead advocates for a “soft on crime” approach to crime

P4. “soft n crime” approach advocates for light sentences for violent offenders

P5. The “Soft on crime” approach is unsafe for the society

MP6. Organizations that promote ideologies that lead to unsafe societies should not be joined

Critique

The argument does not expound on the harms or effects of joining organizations that advocate for policies that may be deemed unsafe for society. Apparently, the argument seeks to support its conclusion of not joining Humanity International with an unexplained premise. The argument does not illustrate the link between the joining of an organization and an organization supporting policies that may be viewed as unsafe for society. Failure of a vivid illustration of this linkage discredits the viability of the final conclusion (Barnes, 2003).