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（94） The following appeared in a proposal from the development office at Platonic University. “Because Platonic University has had difficulty in meeting its expenses over the past three years, we need to find new ways to increase revenues. We should consider following the example of Greene University, which recently renamed itself after a donor who gave it $100 million. If Platonic University were to advertise to its alumni and other wealthy people that it will rename either individual buildings or the entire university itself after the donors who give the most money, the amount of donations would undoubtedly increase.”
In the argument, the author makes a conclusion that if the Platonic University followed example of Green University to rename its building or entire university name after the donors who give the most money, it will have a increase in donations. To buttress the argument the author refers to assumption that if the Platonic University followed example of Green University, which recently renamed itself after a donor who gave it $100 million, it would also have a increase in donations. Furthermore, the argument suggests Platonic University to advertise to its alumni and other weathy people to attract more donors. However, the author fails to provide sufficient imformation about the assumption that if Platonic University were to rename its name after the donors who donate most, there will truly a increase in donations, and to show more investigation that will indicate the advertising activities will attract more donors.
In the first place, the argument rests on a dubious assumption that if the Platonic University followed example of Green University it would also have a increase in donations. As a matter of factor, it is likely that there is something unique of Green University, so that it could follow such strategy that name the university after the donor`s name. For example, maybe it is not any regulation in the area where Green University lies that bans university to be named after donor, whereas there are such regulations in the location where Platonic University lies. Furthermore, even if it is possible for Platonic University to be named after someone, there is no guarentee that the university will get a bill of money such as $100 million. In the second place, the author makes another fallacy that he/she thinks Platonic University should advertise to its alumni and other weathy people that it will rename either individual buildings or the entire university itself after the donors who give the most money. However, more investigation should be shown that the alumni and rich people will be attracted by such advertices. It is more likely that because knowing thier university follows such a strategy that changes the name for money, the alumni may feel shamed about that, trading the reputation for donations. So without more investigation indicating that the advertising will be successful, the author cannot make the conclusion safely. In conclusion, as the matter of factors above-mentioned, lacking of sufficient imformation about the assumption that if Platonic University were to rename its name after the donors who donate most and of more investigation that will indicate the advertising activities will attract more donors, the argument is not convincing. To brace the argument, more imformation about the assumption and more investigation of the advertising should be listed in the argument.
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发表于 2009-3-17 20:21:00
楼主
