Some environmentalists question the prudence of exploiting features of the environment, arguing that there are no eco...

aimee.marisa February 26, 2020

How to know when to diagram?

I think I need further clarification on how to identify when there is a sufficient and necessary statement. I was stumped by this question because I thought it was like the other questions with sufficient/necessary. Could you provide me a list of terms that would signal sufficient and necessary?

Replies

Create a free account to read and take part in forum discussions.

Already have an account? log in

SamA February 26, 2020

Hello @aimee.marisa,

Remember that we use the terms "sufficient and necessary" to describe conditionality. To put it simply, this is the language of if/then statements. But, as you seem to understand, conditional statements are not always written in the if/then format.

In the question that you commented on, I didn't see the type of conditional reasoning that is helpful to diagram. I thought of it as two competing arguments. Some environmentalists believe one thing, other environmentalists believe something else.

I suppose you could make a conditional statement out of the first group's argument:

If there is no economic benefit (not EB), then we should not exploit the environment (not EE).
not EB - - - - - - -> not EE
EE - - - - - - - - > EB

However, once you get to the answer choices, you will see that this is not particularly helpful. Also, we don't have to accept this as true. The stimulus only claims that some people believe this.

I'll create some sentences with sufficient and necessary indicators. I do not have an exhaustive list, so you should also look at the flashcards under the sufficient/necessary lesson.

Unless: Unless the bear population is back to normal (BPN), we should support the conservation bill (SCB).
not SCB - - - - - > BPN
not BPN - - - - - > SCB

Only: Only park rangers (PR) are allowed in the forest (AIF).
AIF - - - - - - > PR
not PR - - - - - -> not AIF

Every: Every species in the mountain range (SMR) is endangered (E).
SMR - - - - - -> E
not E - - - - - - -> not SMR

No: No mountain lions (ML) will hunt in the daytime (HD).
HD - - - - - > not ML
ML - - - - - -> HD

Here are some other indicator words:
Without
Any
All
If and only if
Never

aimee.marisa February 29, 2020

Thank you very much! That helps a lot!

aliH November 3, 2020

Hi Sam - just to clarify, does "no" always indicate a Necessary Condition?