What is the difference between an unsound argument and an invalid argument?

Answer 1

INVALID arguments are those arguments whose formal structure is deficient. In other words, the conclusion of an invalid argument does not follow from the logical structure of its premises. An invalid argument can never be sound, and so, its conclusion can be disregarded, for the most part. However, this does not mean that the conclusion of an invalid argument is wrong (or false), it only means that, based on its premises, one has no reason to accept its conclusion.

VALID arguments are structurally sufficient. The conclusion of a valid argument is logically "forced" by its premises. Valid arguments can be either SOUND or UNSOUND, and so, the conclusion of a valid argument must be taken seriously.

A valid argument may, however, be an UNSOUND argument. The validity of an argument is no guarantee of the truth of its conclusion. Validity only guarantees that IF all of the premises of the argument are true, THEN the conclusion must be true. A valid argument in which one or more of the premises are false is an UNSOUND argument.

If an argument is valid and its premises are all true, then it is a SOUND argument and one is forced to accept the argument's conclusion. The only options that one has if one does not like the conclusion of a valid argument that appears sound are to either show that, in fact, its logical structure is not valid, or that, in fact, one or more of its premises is false.


This EXACT question has also been asked and answered before.

Answer 2

Soundness A Sound argument is a valid argument in which all its premises are true. (Passes both the validity and the truth tests). An unsound argument is an argument which is either invalid or is valid but has at least one false premise. (It fails either the validity test or the truth test). Example Every person is a joker John Smith is a person John Smith is a joker Invalidity The one thing a valid argument cannot have is true premises and a false conclusion. An invalid argument is an argument in which it is possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false. Example If I work, then I can pay my bills I can pay my bills, Therefore, I must have worked The argument is invalid. Consider the possibility that I just won the lottery.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the difference between an unsound argument and an invalid argument?

Answer 4

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avk1P

An unsound argument uses poor logic that is wrong and an invalid argument is one that is wrong dspite the conclusion being logically possible given the premises. unsound: Since my dog is gray, all animals are gray. (Bad logic...the premises really don't have anything to do with each other.) invalid: All women are gray. Julia Roberts is a woman. That means Julia Roberts is gray. (Obviously, this is logically sound, but it's just untrue. She is not gray.)

Answer 5

An argument is 'valid' if the argument itself is true (that is, there are no logical flaws in the argument). It is 'sound' if it is valid and the premises are true. An argument may be valid, but not sound, e.g., this syllogism:
1. All people named Blake have two heads.
2. My roommate's boyfriend is named Blake.
3. My roommate is dating a two-headed man.
This argument is valid, but it's based on an incorrect premise, and is therefore unsound. However, if the premise were true, it would be sound.

Answer 6

an argument can be invalid if it fails to address the question, or uses data which is obviously incorrect.
an unsound argument relies on conjecture or has obvious flaws in reasoning, no matter how valid the data it is based upon.

Answer 7

Invalid argument means there is at least one lapse in logical thinking. An unsound argument means the attempt at logic is too bizarre.

Answer 8

One Stupid, the other Foolish.