Question

First, in your initial post, create three separate arguments in which you conclude “All beagles are mammals” - one that is valid but not sound, one that is sound, and one that is invalid. But don’t put them in any particular order and don’t say which is which.

In your replies to at least two other students, you should say which of their arguments are sound, valid but unsound, or invalid, and why.

Each argument should be non-circular.

Answer 1

An argument is sound if the premises are true and the conclusion is also true. An argument is false or invalid, if the premises are true but the conclusion is false and is not true.

The example is given below for a sound argument:

All beagles are mammals,

All dogs are mammals,

Therefore, all beagles are dogs.

Another example is given below for a valid argument but not sound:

All beagles are mammals,

All dogs are mammals,

Therefore, all dogs are beagles.

This is an invalid argument as all the varieties of dogs cannot be beagles. There are other varieties of dogs.

The following is an example of an unsound and an invalid argument

All male beagles are dogs,

All female beagles are dogs,

All female beagles are male beagles.