Argument: All fishes swim. Therefore, Nemo swims.
This argument would be valid or strong argument if it will be repaired. Even if all fishes swims and concluding that Nemo swims without stating that Nemo is a fish, that argument wouldn't make any sense because Nemo could be anything. So, this argument needs to repaired in order for it to be a valid or strong argument.
To fix this, "Nemo is a fish" should be added because it is the only premise that will make this a valid or strong argument. Adding this true premise will make the argument good.
Repaired statement would be:
All fishes swim. Nemo is a fish. Therefore, Nemo swims.
Stating Nemo is a fish would give "Nemo swims" more sense. It makes the argument a valid and strong argument. Without the premise "Nemo is a fish", the argument would not make sense at all and ends up as a invalid argument.
I definitely agree with your fixed argument as it does fix the problem to the irrational argument. Although, the first premise of the argument states that all fishes swim, the argument can not conclude that Nemo can swim because we do not know who or what Nemo actually is and if they have the ability to swim. Nemo could possibly be a tiger, lion, or a filipino man with blonde hair. Just because Nemo was a popularized name in Pixar's movie, "Finding Nemo," doesn't mean that the argument is valid.
ReplyDeleteI should add that the argument is very strong, but a the same time it cannot be valid. There can be the possibility that Nemo is a fish that cannot swim. The fish may possibly be a barnacle, which is a type of shellfish that does not have the ability to swim. May be if you add what type of fish Nemo is, then it would make your argument valid.
I love this example Nemo is a great movie, but for those who have not seen the movie would not assume that Nemo is a fish. They are most likely to assume that it could be anything. This argument however is strong but it is not valid because it does not state that Nemo is a fish therefore, who knows if Nemo can really swim. I agree with your fix because adding Nemo is a fish in the argument would make it valid. Stating what Nemo actually is helps the argument become stronger and valid. Those who have not seen Finding Nemo would not easily say that Nemo is a fish because Nemo can be anything or anyone.
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