Practice question · Select all that apply
Which statements about validity are correct?
Hints
- Three follow directly from the definition; one adds a requirement the definition does not make.
- Validity guarantees a true conclusion only if the premises are actually true, which is soundness.
Show the answer
- A. Validity depends on the form of the inference
- C. A valid argument can have entirely false premises
- D. No assignment of truth values can defeat a valid argument from the top down
Why
Validity permits false premises and false conclusions; it forbids only the combination of true premises with a false conclusion. Guaranteeing a true conclusion requires soundness, not merely validity.
Practise Arguments, Validity and Soundness
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