Which is a valid conclusion, if any, of the following argument?

Question

If John's dog eats bread, then the dog will gain weight.

John's dog gains weight.

Which is a valid conclusion, if any, of the following argument?

If John's dog eats bread, then the dog will gain weight.

John's dog gains weight.

John's dog eats bread.

John's dog did not eat bread.

John's dog eats something else.

No valid conclusion can be made.

Answer 1

In the argument presented, we have the following premises:

1. If John's dog eats bread, then the dog will gain weight. (If A, then B)
2. John's dog gains weight. (B is true)

From these premises, we cannot conclude that John's dog eats bread (A is true). This reasoning is an example of the fallacy known as affirming the consequent: just because the consequence is true (the dog gains weight) does not mean that the condition (the dog eating bread) is true.

The valid conclusion in this argument is: No valid conclusion can be made.

Therefore, the correct answer is: No valid conclusion can be made.