When an argument gives good support

An argument can sound confident and still give poor reasons for its conclusion. It can also contain a true conclusion that its reasons do not establish. To judge an argument, we need to examine both the information it begins with and the connection it makes.

This lesson brings together two questions: “Are the reasons acceptable?” and “What would follow if those reasons were true?” Keeping them separate helps us explain exactly what needs improvement. Different kinds of reasoning require different standards, so we will distinguish a guaranteed conclusion from one that is well supported but uncertain.