8.6: Validity

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Page ID: 67196

Jim Marteney
Los Angeles Valley College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)

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Validity refers to the internal logic or reasonableness of an argument. Given the data that is used in the argument, is the conclusion that is reached a logical or consistent conclusion? If not there is a fallacy, or misuse of logic, in the argument. An important idea to remember is that even if the argument is totally valid, if the data being used is inaccurate, the conclusion will still be inaccurate. This begins to set up the difference between the concepts of Truth and validity.