A Critique of Thank You for Smoking. . .?

A Critique of “Thank You for Smoking. . .?"

Peter Brimelow is a senior editor for Forbes magazine. The essay was written taken from Forbes magazine (July 4, 1994).

Peter Brimelow’s “Thank You for Smoking” is a misleading argument which has very little precise evidence and illustrates a weak argument. The essay is about how smoking in some small ways, can be good for you. (Brimelow). In his claim it sounds like he isn’t sure of it himself because he used “might be” and “some” which are not strong argumentative words. When stating a major claim it has to be strong and get the message clear. It is supported by logic and reason, not by emotional rhetoric. (Clark 5).

Brimelow’s rebuttal talks about the Surgeon General and how he has determined smoking is not at all dangerous to your health. A rebuttal points out instances in which the claim or warrant might not be true or ways the audience might object to what the author is arguing. He goes on to say that 400,000 deaths are related to smoking each year. His rebuttal to this is comparing smoking with driving. He goes on to say that driving causes 40,000 deaths in one year. These two numbers comparing the number of deaths caused my smoking and car accidents are not even close to comparison. Another car can collide with them or bad roads can cause accidents, while smoking is totally preventable and can be controlled by the person.

Value is what the author believes strongly in and in this essay freedom is Brimelow’s value stated. I think it was clever using freedom to compare because it appeals to people and it gets their attention and keeps it. He says driving cars is dangerous and people have the freedom to drive cars then they should have the freedom to smoke where they want. Is it the smoker’s right to come into a room full of non-smokers and light up a cigarette? Should all the non-smokers have to bear the smoke or have to leave because they have a right to smoke anywhere they want. Smokers have the right to smoke but only where smoking is permitted. If they want to harm themselves let them do it alone and not harm people who want to breathe clean air.