Why can an argument have true premises and still have a false conclusion?

An argument can have true premises and a false conclusion when it is invalid. In logic, an argument is considered valid only if the truth of its premises logically guarantees the truth of its conclusion.1

When an argument fails to meet this standard, it is because the logical form does not necessitate that the conclusion follows from the premises. Even if the premises happen to be true in a specific instance, the structure of the argument is such that it does not prevent the conclusion from being false. Such arguments are often characterized by a fallacy, such as a non sequitur, where there is an obvious lack of connection between the premises and the conclusion, meaning the reasoning does not provide rational grounds for accepting the conclusion.12

In contrast, a valid argument ensures that if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true, regardless of the specific subject matter.13