Question

Explain whether or not an argument can be valid but not sound.

Answer 1

An argument can be valid but not sound.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, an argument can be valid but not sound. Validity and soundness are two different concepts in logic. Validity refers to the logical structure of an argument, while soundness refers to both the logical structure and the truth of the premises. A valid argument is one where the conclusion logically follows from the premises, but it may not necessarily have true premises. For example:

1. Premise 1: All cats have wings.
2. Premise 2: Charlie is a cat.
3. Conclusion: Therefore, Charlie has wings.

This argument is valid because if the premises were true, then the conclusion would also be true. However, since premise 1 is false, the argument is not sound.