LR-"since" Forum

[RobertGolddust]

Is "since" a causality trigger or a premise indicator or perhaps both?

[westtech]

Is "since" a causality trigger or a premise indicator or perhaps both?

The word "since" can certainly be used in a causal argument but the rest of the argument should tip you off to whether or not it is causal. I wouldn't think an argument is causal just because I saw the word "since".

It is definitely a premise indicator. A lot of times you will see it in a two part sentence where the first part of the sentence will be the conclusion and the keyword "since" will indicate a supporting premise or premises.

The other way is when you see a sentence starting with the word "since" and the premise will immediately follow and in the second part of that sentence the author will give you his conclusion.

When it is used in a causal argument the argument might go something like "since A happened, B will happen (or B has already happened)". (To put it in an overly simplistic example).

[sighsigh]

It indicates a sufficient condition. That sufficient condition is not necessarily a cause which leads to an effect.