Good and Bad Arguments

(1)

is a bad argument because the conclusion might be wrong even if the premises are true. For instance, Hamish might be an actor in a play.

(2)

is a good argument because if you accept the premises you must also accept the conclusion. Here the conclusion is true.

(3)

is a bad argument because even if you accept the premises, the conclusion does not follow. Here the conclusion is true.

(4)

is a good argument, but the conclusion is false (in 1998).

The quality or validity of an argument does not depend on the particular truth status of either the premises or the conclusion but on the relationship between the two.