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Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:23 pm
by 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?
Re: Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:26 pm
by gaud
I believe there has been that on more than a couple PTs.
Re: Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:39 pm
by 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.
Re: Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:55 pm
by princeR
This is precisely why I started thinking of necessary assumption questions as "Must be True for the conclusion to be true".
Re: Answer choices to Necessary Assumption Questions
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:25 pm
by 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.