Argument Quote by Sam Harris
“An argument can be logically valid, but unsound in that it contains a false premise and, therefore, leads to a false conclusion (e.g., Scientists are smart; smart people do not make mistakes; therefore, scientists do not make mistakes).”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Landscape, 2010
A logically valid argument can still be false if any premise is incorrect, leading to an unreliable conclusion.
In simple terms: Valid logic can still be wrong if premises are false.
Key Takeaway
Check premises before trusting conclusions.
Themes
logic
philosophy
critical thinking
argumentation
Mood
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- debate preparation
- academic writing
- risk assessment
- decision making
Key Concepts
Validity
soundness
premise evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify premises?
- What safeguards prevent unsound reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Even valid forms can produce harmful conclusions if premises are biased.
![“[Science] is not perfect. It can be misused. It is only a tool. But it is by far the best tool we have, self-correcting, ongoing, applicable to everything. It has two rules. First: there are no sacred truths; all assumptions must be critically examined; arguments from authority are worthless…” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b3/carl-sagan-160_argument_science-is-not-perfect-it-can-be-misused_2558360.jpg)
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
