What is a valid argument and what is a strong argument? It may sound the same but if you get into a deeper meaning of those words it has different a definition to it. Let’s start with a valid argument; in the text “Critical Thinking”, Epstein states that, “Valid argument is a valid if there is no possible way for premises to be true and its conclusion false (at the same time)”. So in other words, a valid argument is an argument where the problem or issue is false and the conclusion is true as well. An example of it would be: “Every employee at Safeway has gotten their pay check. Erick is an employee at Safeway. So Erick has been given his tuition.” This is a valid argument because it is not possible for one to be true and the other false. It is based upon the premises being true and the conclusion being wrong. It’s a valid argument but a bad argument.
A strong argument has a true conclusion that goes with the premises being true as well. An example of a strong argument would be when my cousin sat on a long car ride to Los Angles. She said, ”Every time I sit in long car rides I get sick. I ate a good breakfast and was not sick prior to this trip. I must get motion sickness when I ride in car rides.” This is a strong argument because it brings in a significant amount of support and proof that this premises is true and linking the conclusion to be true too.
You gave a good introduction to both of these kinds of argument by starting with their definition. I agree with your example of a valid argument. The premises can be believed to be true and the conclusion makes sense because of the premises. I am a bit confused as to why you said that it is a bad argument. I think this argument can be considered a good one because from the test the book gives us determine whether an argument is good or bad, this one seems to validate the three points. It has plausible premises and it is a valid argument. But overall you chose good and thorough examples.
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