I can't believe I am asking this at this stage - I am deep into Chapter 3 of Testmasters and I should have this down pat by now, but I think I am having a brain freeze moment....
If you have a compound conditional statement - a sufficient with 2 necessary statements, and one necessary is missing, is the sufficient still true?
Example:
A scientific theory is a good theory if it satisfies 2 requirements - It must describe a large class of observations in a simple model with only a few elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations.
So..
Good Theory (GT)
Observations in Simple Model with only a few elements (SM)
Definite Predictions ... (P)
GT -> SM and P
(~P or ~SM -> GT)
Right? So far, so good.
Then Aristotle is missing one of those - he only has the SM. He didn't make predictions.
So, is Aristotle's theory still a GT? I have no idea why I am stuck on this. It isn't even what the question asks, and I actually got the question right...but I noticed that I forgot something about compound statements while diagramming this.
thanks!
Quick Question on Compound Conditional Statements Forum
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:53 pm
-
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:36 pm
Re: Quick Question on Compound Conditional Statements
The contrapositive of the statement GT-->SM + P would be ~SM or ~P--> ~GT. The neccesary conditions are negated and the AND becomes OR so ~SM or ~P is now the sufficient condition. So if Aristotle's is missing just one, that's sufficient to say it must not be a good theory.
Not sure if that answers your question.
Not sure if that answers your question.
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:53 pm
Re: Quick Question on Compound Conditional Statements
Yes it does BV.
Thank you - the answer is right there with the and/or, but I kind of needed a nudge.
thanks!
Thank you - the answer is right there with the and/or, but I kind of needed a nudge.
thanks!
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:37 am
Re: Quick Question on Compound Conditional Statements
I think you also made a mistake in what you say after "Example":
You mean that a scientific theory is good ONLY IF it satisfies two requirements...
Just wanted to warn you -- you need to be very careful about distinguishing between "IF" and "ONLY IF".
Good luck!
You mean that a scientific theory is good ONLY IF it satisfies two requirements...
Just wanted to warn you -- you need to be very careful about distinguishing between "IF" and "ONLY IF".
Good luck!
fvigaud wrote:I can't believe I am asking this at this stage - I am deep into Chapter 3 of Testmasters and I should have this down pat by now, but I think I am having a brain freeze moment....
If you have a compound conditional statement - a sufficient with 2 necessary statements, and one necessary is missing, is the sufficient still true?
Example:
A scientific theory is a good theory if it satisfies 2 requirements - It must describe a large class of observations in a simple model with only a few elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations.
So..
Good Theory (GT)
Observations in Simple Model with only a few elements (SM)
Definite Predictions ... (P)
GT -> SM and P
(~P or ~SM -> GT)
Right? So far, so good.
Then Aristotle is missing one of those - he only has the SM. He didn't make predictions.
So, is Aristotle's theory still a GT? I have no idea why I am stuck on this. It isn't even what the question asks, and I actually got the question right...but I noticed that I forgot something about compound statements while diagramming this.
thanks!
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login