Analysis of an Argument

A recent study with a researcher pretending to have a broken down car on the side of the road showed that when the researcher was a man, 60% of the time, a man pulled over to help them, and 0% of the time a woman stopped to help. When the researcher was a woman, 70% of the time a man stopped to help, and 20% of the time a woman stopped to help. This study shows how all men are more naturally altruistic than women. It also shows that women care more about helping women than men.

The writer states that if the driver of a breaken car is a man, his fellow men most cases help me and women do not even bother to assist. He also states that if the occupier of the broken car is a women, most men prefer to help and few women do render assistance. He is postulating that by nature, men exhibit selfless attitude than women. However, the conclusion seems unwarranted.

First, in the case of the occupier being a man, the writer assumes that miost men are willing to help than women. He did not tell us what prompted the men to help. it could have been someone familiar with the occupier who decided to help or someone who pity for such an invidual with such car problem. He did not tell us the situation, time and circumstances where the cars break down. It could have been in the day or on a major road.

Secondly, He states that no women bother to assist men in such situation. He did not tell us what could have made women not to bother helping a man out. It could be women were warned by their family not to help lonely man on the road side with faulty car that such men could be damgerous. Also, it could mean they were in a hurry to get to their destination and were not too interested in helping.

Thirdly, he states that majority of men are eager to help a woman with faulty car than women. This genaralisation is unwarranted. he didnt tell us what could have made most decide in helping a women in need of car assistance. He did not mention the kind of statistics and survey that was carried out whether it was in the East or West, whether it was on Black, White. he didnt say.

Fourthly, he assumes that women are more eager to help their fellow men in need than men. he did not states the criteria he used in arriving at this conclusion.

In summary, the writer feels that more men are eager to help a person either male or female whose car broke down than women. He did not provide enough prrof to justify his claim. therefore, his conclusion is not justified.