Persuasive Essay: Countering Isaacs' 'Of Pain, Predators, Pleasure'

This essay serves as a counter-argument to Walter Isaacs' essay, 'Of Pain, Predators, and Pleasure,' addressing the debate on whether fish feel pain when hooked. The essay challenges Isaacs' perspective, arguing that fishing does not inflict significant harm on fish and refuting notions of sadism and primitivism associated with the activity. It critiques Isaacs' claims about the impact of fishing on fish procreation and the pain caused by hooks and anglers. The author contends that the absence of widespread governmental bans and the lack of comprehensive examples in Isaacs' essay undermine the argument. The essay concludes by emphasizing the lack of predatory instincts in fishing and suggests that proving fish pain requires further scientific experimentation, ultimately portraying fishing as an activity devoid of inherent negativity.

Running head: ESSSAY
Essay
Name of the Student-
Name of the University-
Author note-

1ESSAY
Introduction
Issacs Walter, in his essay, discusses about the notions of pain as well as
pleasure that can be related to fishing. The article upholds verbalizes the pain
experienced by the fishes by the anglers and hooks. The article also emphasizes upon
the sadistic pleasure experienced by the author. This essay will argue that fishing does
not inflict any harm upon the fishes.
Discussion
There are certain areas in the essay can be challenged. The counter argument
that can be presented is that fishing is an activity that generates immense satisfaction
and peace. In addition to this, it has to be argued that the notion of sadism and
primitivism can be refuted on the ground that indulging in fishing is a peaceful activity
that does not really harm the surrounding. It can be mentioned that fishing does not
have any predatory ideas associated with it. In his essay, the author also throws light
upon the idea that the indulgence of fishing hampers and impedes the procreative
activities of the fishes. It can also be counter argued that this proposition is flawed in
nature. The counter-argument is justified because history is evident of the fact that the
peaceful indulgence in fishing has been existing since the beginning of civilization. The
author also endeavors to mention that fishing conducted by anglers and hooks hurts the
fishes. This can be refuted on the ground that had the activity truly disrupted or caused
serious damage, several governments would have banned it. Fishing has not been
reprimanded on severe terms.

2ESSAY
One of the major errors in the essay written by Issacs Walter is that the essay
does not endeavor to include or provide any comprehensive example or instances to
justify the stance and the proposed ideas. The author fails to account and justify the
claim that the anglers and hooks cause serious pain to the fishes. Needless to say, it is
because of this factor that the essay written by the essay starts to lose track and proper
justification. Without proper support from research and statistics, the arguments fall
apart. A closer scrutiny of Walter’s essay will reveal that the introductory section throws
light upon the notion of the pain that is inflicted by the anglers and hooks upon the
fishes, the concluding part of the essay discusses about the efforts of the author
directed towards the conservation of fishes.
On the contrary, it can also be said that the arguments presented by the author
regarding the pain experienced by fishes can be validated if measures to compute the
pain can be discovered. In addition to this, the idea of the predatory nature of fishing
can be validated if required psychic experiments are conducted.
Conclusion
After taking into consideration the various discussed aspects, it needs to be
concluded that the aspect of fishing is bereaved of any notion of predatory instincts and
ideas. In the concluding section, it has to be emphasized that the proposition of fishes
experiencing pain due to the anglers and hooks can be justified only if the required
experiments can prove the fact. It needs to be agreed upon that fishing is devoid of any
negativity.

3ESSAY