chapter 8: cause and effect reasoning

Question 1

how to recognize causality

Answer 1

the cause must make the effect happen

Question 2

cause and effect indicators

Answer 2

1. caused by
2. because of
3. responsible for
4. reason for
5. leads to
6. induced by
7. promoted by
8. determined by
9. produced by
10. product of
11. played a role in
12. was a factor in
13. is an effect of

Question 3

note: casual is usually active, powerful words while conditional is not usually. if the conclusion is a casual statement, there is a flaw

Question 4

situations that lead to casual errors

Answer 4

1. one event happens first and people wrongly assume its casual
2. it leads out a third thing, causing the relationship because two things happen at the same time

Question 5

note: in the LSAT, if causality is defined, it means the cause is the only possible cause for that effect, and the cause will always cause the effect

Question 6

how to attack casual relationship

Answer 6

1. find an alternative cause for the effect
2. show that even if the cause happens, the effect does not
3. show that the effect happens without the cause
4. show the stated relationship is reversed
5. show a statistical error with the data used to make the casual relationship