Period Argument Analysis for Shaw – “On Experimenting with Animals” A. Briefly Paraphrase each paragraph of the essay. Paragraph 1: The author opens his essay by introducing information that is logical to the reader. This is done by discussing the rights to know and live; while also discussing the pains that follow. Paragraph 2: This is where the author gives contrasting statements on how too much knowledge is not restricted. Instead, people such as parents and priests may forbid knowledge, but no government forbids the purse of knowledge. Paragraph 3: In the concluding paragraph, Shaw states his claim to the subject of experimenting with animals. He discusses how experimenting …show more content…
It is fundamental and unconditional in its assumption that knowledge, like life, is a desirable thing.” The author concedes that there are similarities in the right to live and know. The author feels that knowledge and life are both rights and fundamentally they are both desired. Knowledge, to the author is a desirable thing, but it is proven that ignorance is bliss and “a little knowledge” is dangerous. 5. What does the author assert is the importance of life? What specific support does he use (what laws) to establish man’s desire to preserve the right to live? The importance of life is to continue living and learning by instinct. The specific support that is used is euthanasia in which no man may be killed even if they beg their doctor to let them go peacefully. D. Identify the Volta (turning point) of the essay. Cite it. Line 23-24 “But neither does any government exempt the pursuit of knowledge, any more than the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness (as the American Constitution puts it) from all social conditions.” The Volta is in contrast to the second paragraph that describes how justified the right to knowledge is. E. Explain the function of the first