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Evaluate following argument? Is it valid? Is it sound? Why? All American Presidents are well-read. Donald...

Evaluate following argument? Is it valid? Is it sound? Why?
All American Presidents are well-read. Donald Trump is an American President. Therefore, Donald Trump is well-read.
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Answer #1

Yes the argument mentioned above is Valid but the argument is not a Sound argument.

Test For Validity and Soundness :

Sound argument is the one where the premises presented are true and the conclusion is a result of such premises. Since the conclusion follows from the valid and true premises thus the conclusion is also true.

Here in this argument the premises " All American Presidents are well-read" and " Donald Trump is an American President" are valid as the position of President is not assumed to be occupied by a person who is not well read. Moreover it is true that Donald Trump is an American President. Therefore the argument is valid.

But the conclusion "Therefore, Donald Trump is well-read." follows from two main premises which are :

1) "All American Presidents are well read "

2) "Donald Trump is an American President"

Here only the second premises is sound. And the first premises might be valid but is not true for all situations and people... As there have been some American Presidents in past who were not well read. But still occupied the position of a President.

Therefore irrespective of being Valid the argument fails to provide a Sound judgement.

Thus making the conclusion valid but Unsound.

Because Every sound argument necessarily has to meet two requirements :

First being the validity (which the argument here fulfills)

Second being that the argument should have all true premises...

Since the argument passes the test for being valid but fails at proving its first premises to be true in all situations.

Thus the argument is valid .

But the argument is unsound and does not satisfy the test for soundness by failing at proving its one of premises to be truely applicable to all.Thus making conclusion unsound also

.

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Thank you dear student..

Hope this helps you .

Good luck and God bless :)

Please rate if satisfied

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