In a valid deductive argument, the conclusion is:
2009
In a valid deductive argument, the conclusion is:
Answer: C. Logically entailed by the premises — ConceptA deductive argument aims to establish its conclusion with necessity, but entailment is guaranteed only when the argument is valid. Validity means that…
- A.
Merely a summary of the premises
- B.
Not necessarily supported by the premises
- C.
Logically entailed by the premises
- D.
Logically independent of the premises
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
A deductive argument aims to establish its conclusion with necessity, but entailment is guaranteed only when the argument is valid. Validity means that there is no possible case in which all the premises are true and the conclusion is false.
Application
The clarified stem asks about a valid deductive argument. By the definition of validity, every case that makes all the premises true also makes the conclusion true, so the conclusion is logically entailed by the premises.
Cross-check and contrast
A verbal summary only condenses what the premises say; it names a rhetorical operation rather than the validity relation.
A conclusion that is not necessarily supported allows the premises to be true without requiring that conclusion.
Logical entailment preserves truth from the premises to the conclusion in every possible case.
Logical independence removes the consequence link between the premises and the conclusion.
Therefore, in a valid deductive argument the conclusion is logically entailed by the premises.