In the documentary Super Size Me, narrated and directed by Morgan Spurlock, Mr. Spurlock sets out to see just what effect eating fast food can have on a person’s health. Numerous questions are posed during the film, so it is difficult to determine the exact thesis of the argument. After filtering through all of the information, I determined the main point of the argument to be that McDonald’s knowingly provides unhealthy food to Americans and wants us to eat as much of its food as we can, therefore making us fat. Mr. Spurlock sets out on an experiment with himself as the subject, in which he eats nothing but McDonald’s food for 30 days. Although Mr. Spurlock does present evidence that fast food is unhealthy, I am going to focus on all of the inconsistencies and fallacies in his argument.
First, Mr. Spurlock uses causal reasoning for his argument. He hypothesizes that McDonald’s is the main reason that Americans are getting more obese as a whole. Ground rules are set for his experiment. He will eat …show more content…
The fallacy of the false dilemma is used: either only eat McDonald’s or stay away from fast food. Where is the middle ground? When a sample of nutritionists across the country is polled in the movie, here is the question that is used: “How often do you think people should eat fast food?” Note the word should here. Is a nutritionist going to ever say that a person should eat fast food? This question and the resulting answers are being used to refute McDonald’s claim that their food can be part of a nutritional diet. If they had instead asked nutritionists, “Can McDonald’s be part of a nutritional diet?” I think many more nutritionists would have answered yes, as long as fast food is balanced by other healthier foods, is eaten in moderation, and the person exercises regularly. Again, this is another instance of “spinning” in which the nutritionists are given an either or option due to the wording of the
First, Mr. Spurlock uses causal reasoning for his argument. He hypothesizes that McDonald’s is the main reason that Americans are getting more obese as a whole. Ground rules are set for his experiment. He will eat …show more content…
The fallacy of the false dilemma is used: either only eat McDonald’s or stay away from fast food. Where is the middle ground? When a sample of nutritionists across the country is polled in the movie, here is the question that is used: “How often do you think people should eat fast food?” Note the word should here. Is a nutritionist going to ever say that a person should eat fast food? This question and the resulting answers are being used to refute McDonald’s claim that their food can be part of a nutritional diet. If they had instead asked nutritionists, “Can McDonald’s be part of a nutritional diet?” I think many more nutritionists would have answered yes, as long as fast food is balanced by other healthier foods, is eaten in moderation, and the person exercises regularly. Again, this is another instance of “spinning” in which the nutritionists are given an either or option due to the wording of the