What is the differences between an unsound argument and an invalid argument? Give and example for each.?

Answer 1

An unsound argument has some basis in fact and may not be completely wrong. An invalid argument is because the points made simply do not apply to the argument.

Unsound: It rained today because it was cloudy. Actually, the fact that it was cloudy was a side effect of the cause of the rain. It does indeed get cloudy before it rains, but that is not the exact cause of the rain.

Invalid: It rained today because apples are red. The colors of apples have no bearing on the weather.

Answer 2

In general, the problem with an argument is that at least one premise is false, and hence, that the (valid) argument is unsound. Here is an example of an unsound argument:



(1) All swans are white.

(2) All ravens are black.

–––> No ravens are swans.



This argument is unsound, even though the conclusion is true, because one premise is also false ((1)). There exist black swans.

Some arguments however will be so bad that they are invalid. The conclusion doesn't follow from the premises. Even if you did believe all the premises, you could still reject the conclusion and not contradict yourself. For example:



(1) If God does not exist, then there is no right or wrong.

(2) God exists.

---> There is right and wrong.



This argument is invalid because even if one agreed with the first two premises, one could still reject the conclusion. The conclusion does not follow from the premises. It might be the case, for example, that even if God exists, there is no right or wrong.

The argument, as it were, assumes this, but never states it. But it must be stated, otherwise the conclusion does not follow.

Answer 3

unsound and invalid mean the same thing = the premises do not entail the conclusion

1) Socrates is a man.
2) Socrates is mortal.
therefore: Plato wrote "The Republic".

The premises say nothing about either Plato or "The Republic" so the purported "conclusion" cannot be deduced on their basis. Therefore, the argument is unsound or invalid.

Answer 4

Unsound argument- is argued by someone who does not fully understand the topic. Invalid argument- Is an argument that has no relevance.

Answer 5

An unsound argument is the type you get with your wife when she disagrees with you and gives you the 'silent treatment'. An invalid argument is one where several people in wheelchairs argue the pros and cons of different makes of tyres for them.

Answer 6

Unsound would be something that doesn't have much to back it up. i.e. The world is going to be underwater by year 2012.

Invalid would be something that is downright untrue. i.e. Al Gore invented the internet.

Answer 7

I like this guy's explanation a lot.

http://home.wlu.edu/~mahonj/LittleLogic.htm