What makes an argument good? A good argument has two conditions. The first is that it is an inductive, strong argument that has true premises. Remember, an argument can be valid without being true. The second condition is that it is a sound argument. This would allow the conclusion to not be included in the premises and the conclusion is not a statement that follows the premises and is falsA false conclusion would mean that the premises that led up to the conclusion was in no way near the final product. For example:
Fish has scales, so mammals have hair unless their bald. The premise ‘fish have scales’ has nothing to do with the conclusion that ‘mammals have hair,’ therefore, it meets the second condition of not being a good or sound argument.
Remember a good argument with false premises can be faulted by logic because the premises are not true. The argument can still be valid because the reasoning of the false premises may be convincing, but not concrete enough for the argument to be good.
When you look at an argument to see if it is sound and good, you may think to yourself, ‘where is the proof?’ Here is an area you need to be careful with. What does proof mean? Proof is seen differently in the discipline you read the argument with. For example, you can find a mathematical proof (which is almost solid in most cases), but what does proof mean when you are trying to ‘prove’ someone innocent? The proof of an argument can be seen in many different ways according to the knowledge of the reader and the intent of the writer.
The proof can be proven with the use of in text citations from peer reviewed journals. Here a panal of experts looks at research and deems if it is academically sound. If the research is sound it is published. The information in the research can then be used by others as ‘proof’ to their statements. Of course, some research that is used as proof can be disproved by other research. As one study is put to rest as being false, other studies will rise up and try to take the academic niche. That is until other researchers disprove the argument and create more solid argument in its stead.
Arguments are good for social interaction and academic works. As long as it is civil and each opponent has proof to each of the statements they use and leave emotion and assumption out of it.