What is the difference between a strong and a weak argument in informal logic?

Philosophy Informal Logic Questions



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What is the difference between a strong and a weak argument in informal logic?

In informal logic, the difference between a strong and a weak argument lies in the level of support or persuasiveness they provide for their conclusion.

A strong argument is one that presents compelling evidence, reasoning, or examples that make the conclusion highly probable or likely to be true. It is characterized by having premises that are relevant, reliable, and logically connected to the conclusion. A strong argument is more likely to convince someone who initially disagrees with the conclusion.

On the other hand, a weak argument lacks sufficient evidence, reasoning, or examples to make the conclusion probable or likely to be true. It may contain irrelevant or unreliable premises, logical fallacies, or weak connections between the premises and the conclusion. A weak argument is less likely to convince someone who initially disagrees with the conclusion.

In summary, a strong argument is more persuasive and provides substantial support for the conclusion, while a weak argument lacks convincing evidence and is less likely to be persuasive.