Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions Forum

[Mr.Binks]

I was wondering if there can ever be (or ever has been) an incorect answer choice to a Necessary Assumption question that would suffice as a sufficient assumption?

For instance, PT 62 S2 Q12:

Wouldn't answer choice C.) be sufficient to justify the conclusion, but is not necessary to the argument?

[gaud]

I believe there has been that on more than a couple PTs.

[Mr.Binks]

Ah, okay. Just making sure it was possible and that I wasn't mistaken in thinking that it would have been a sufficient condition.

[princeR]

This is precisely why I started thinking of necessary assumption questions as "Must be True for the conclusion to be true".

[bp shinners]

Yes, in fact most sufficient assumptions won't be necessary. They tend to be too strong and broad to be absolutely necessary to get to the conclusion.

The way I look at it is that in all assumption questions, there's a flaw/assumption. A sufficient assumption answer will pick one way you can fix that flaw and give it to you. A necessary assumption will just tell you that it's possible to fix the flaw.