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Deductive Validity
“An argument can be valid even when it mentions dragons and its conclusion is false in the real world.”
01 / SUMMARY
In short
Validity names a relation: if the premises were true, the conclusion could not be false. It assesses the reasoning's form, not whether its sentences are actually true.
03 / SCENE
In the wild
All dragons fly; Nara is a dragon; therefore Nara flies. The form is valid even though the first premise does not describe reality.
04 / LIMIT
The limit
Valid does not mean true, persuasive, or supported by good evidence.
FINAL NOTE
What remains
First ask whether the conclusion follows; then check the premises.