Question

Which among the following is an attribute of deductive argument?

• A. They can be valid or invalid
• B. They can be true or false
• C. They can be strong or weak
• D. They can be good or bad

Hint:

Deductive arguments are valid if the conclusion logically follows from the premises; invalid if it does not. The truth of the premises impacts the truth of the conclusion.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding Deductive Arguments.
A deductive argument is valid if its conclusion is a logical necessity given its premises. If the premises are true, the conclusion must inevitably be true. An argument is invalid if the conclusion does not follow logically from the premises.
Step 2: Analyzing the Options.
- 1. They can be valid or invalid: Correct. Deductive arguments are assessed based on the logical connection between premises and conclusion, determining validity or invalidity. - 2. They can be true or false: Incorrect. Truth or falsity applies to individual statements (premises and conclusions), not to the argument's logical structure. - 3. They can be strong or weak: This terminology is for inductive arguments. Deductive arguments are judged by validity, not strength. - 4. They can be good or bad: This is imprecise. The correct evaluative terms are "valid" or "invalid."
Step 3: Conclusion. Option 1 is the correct description: Deductive arguments can be valid or invalid.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{The correct answer is 1. They can be valid or invalid.}} \]