Final answer:
To evaluate the validity of the provided argument, a truth table should be constructed to assess the logical relationship between the premises and the conclusion. A valid argument is one where true premises must logically lead to a true conclusion. Without constructing the truth table, we cannot conclude which option regarding validity is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the validity of the argument S ≡ (N v H) / S v ~N // S ⊃ H, we start by laying out its logical form using a truth table. The argument provided corresponds to the logical structure of disjunctive syllogism and deductive reasoning. A valid deductive inference means that if the premises are true, then the conclusion must also be true. Hence, we evaluate the truth values of the premises and conclusion under all possible truth assignments for the variables involved.
Truth Table Examination
1. S is equivalent to (N or H), expressed as S ≡ (N v H).
2. S or not N is expressed as S v ~N.
3. If S then H, expressed as S ⊃ H.
By constructing a truth table and testing all possible truth values of N and H, we assess each step to see where the argument may fail. If there's a scenario where the premises are true and the conclusion is false, the argument is invalid.
However, if no such scenario exists, then the argument is valid. Without the actual truth table provided, we cannot definitively conclude which option (a, b, c, or d) is correct. Nevertheless, it's important to understand that a valid argument is one where the premises logically lead to the conclusion.