Final answer:
Affirmation of the consequent is always invalid in deductive logic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Affirmation of the consequent is always invalid. In an argument, if we affirm the consequent (claim that if the consequent is true, then the antecedent is also true), we cannot logically conclude that the antecedent is true. This is a common fallacy in deductive logic. Let's take an example:
- If it rains, the ground is wet.
- The ground is wet.
- Therefore, it must have rained.
Although the argument seems reasonable, it is logically invalid because there could be other reasons for the ground to be wet, such as a sprinkler system or someone spilling water. Thus, affirming the consequent is an invalid form of reasoning.