How is 'validity' distinguished from 'soundness' in an argument?

The distinction between validity and soundness in an argument is foundational in critical thinking. Validity specifically pertains to the structure or logical form of an argument; it means that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. Validity does not concern itself with the actual truth of the premises—just that the conclusion logically follows from them.

Soundness, on the other hand, goes a step further. An argument is sound if it is both valid and has all true premises. Therefore, soundness guarantees the truth of the conclusion, while validity alone does not ensure that the premises are accurate.

This nuanced understanding clearly aligns with the choice that emphasizes that validity refers to the form of the argument, while soundness additionally requires that the premises be true. The other options do not accurately represent the relationship between validity and soundness, as they introduce incorrect criteria or attributes that do not apply to these concepts in logical reasoning.