Conditional Reasoning II Flashcards
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
If I’m breathing, air is present
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
If {I’m breathing}, air is present
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
If I’m breathing, air is present
Ask, “If what?”
breathing is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
When I’m breathing, air is present
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
When {I’m breathing}, air is present
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
When I’m breathing, air is present
Ask, “When what?”
breathing is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
Any breathing means air is present
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
Any {breathing} means air is present
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
Any breathing means air is present
Ask, “Any what?”
breathing is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
All instances of breathing have air present
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
All {instances of breathing} have air present
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
All instances of breathing have air present
Ask, “All what?”
instances of breathing is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
Every instance of breathing has air present
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
Every {instance of breathing} has air present
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
In order to breathe, I must have air
Ask, “Every what?”
instance of breathing is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
In order to breathe, I must have air
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
In order to {breathe}, I must have air
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
In order to breathe, I must have air
Ask, “In order to what?”
breathe is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
People who breathe need air
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
People who {breathe} need air
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
People who breath need air
Ask, “People who what?”
breathe is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
Air must be present for breathing
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
{Air} must be present for breathing
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
Air must be present for breathing
Ask, “What must be present for breathing?”
Air is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
ID the Conditional Indicator’s target word or phrase:
Air is required for breathing.
The indicator’s target is the word or phrase it is referring to.
{Air} is required for breathing.
You can use the “what” test to find out what the target indicator is.
Just ask: “ What is the indicator referring to?
Air is required for breathing
Ask, “What is required for breathing?”
Air is what the target is referring to, therefore it is the target we’re looking for.
Chaining conditionals
How would you chain these two conditionals?
L → M → N
Chaining conditionals
How would you chain these 2 conditionals?
Chaining conditionals
What is the chain and contrapositive of these conditionals?
And/Or:
What is the contrapositive of this?
And/Or:
What is the contrapositive of this?
And/Or:
Diagram “neither x nor y”
And/Or:
Always diagram and/or conditionals {vertically/horizontally}
Vertically
If and only if:
How do you diagram “if and only if”?
As a double arrow/biconditional.
Use the double arrow to diagram if and only if as a biconditional.
Example: If and only if I’m doing something that I love am I happy.
If I’m doing something that I love, then I’m happy
DSIL → H
If I’m happy, then I’m doing something that I love
H → DSIL
If and only if I’m doing something that I love am I happy.
DSIL ↔ H
If and only if:
What are the four indicators of the “if and only if” family?
-if but only if
-all and only
-but not otherwise
-when and only when
Either/Or:
Explain what the inclusion indicator either/or forces us to do.
Either/or is the inclusion indicator
Either/or forces us to include at least one of the two things it targets
Either/Or:
What are the two steps to diagramming “either/or” (aka the inclusion indicators)?
- Negate one half of the statement and put it in the sufficient condition.
- Place the other half in the necessary condition.
Either I will stare into the distance or I will make progress
1. Negate one helf of the statement: ~stare →
2. Place the other half in the necessary condition:
~stare → make progress
Exclusion indicators:
What are the four exclusion indicators?
Exclusion indicators set up mutally exclusive relationships
- No
- None
- Nobody
- Never
Exclusion indicators:
What are the two steps to diagram the exclusion indicators (no, none, never, nobody)?
- Choose one side of the statement and put it in the sufficient condition.
- Negate the other side and put it in the necessary condition.
The exception:
What is the conditional exception indicator?
Unless
Unless: The Exception indicator
How do you diagram “unless”?
~[the way things are] → exception
- The target of unless is the exception. Throw it in the necssary condition.
- The other half of the statement is the way things always are. go against the grain. negate the way the things always are and put that in the sufficient condition.
- You end up with ~[the way things always are] → Exception
Who are the three other members of the unless family?
- Except
- Until
- Without
What does “some” mean?
Some means any quantity of one or more. It can mean anywhere from 1%-100%.
What does most mean?
Most means any quantity in the majority. Most can mean 51-100%.
How do I diagram “some”?
Diagram “some” using a double arrow
What are the other four members of the “some” family?
- Few
- Many
- At least one
- Several
(Yes, they all mean the same thing on the lsat)
How do you diagram “not all” and what does it mean?
“Not all” means some of the target doesn’t have the quality described. You diagram it by identifying the target and applying a negative to the other side of the statements.
not all feathers are in caps means some feathers are not in caps.
What is the contrapositive to a “some” statement?
There is no contrapositive for some statements. There are no negated meanings.
some water bottles are hilariously overpriced
If someone is not a water bottle, they may or may not be hilariously overpriced. We don’t know so we can’t make any claims on this.
How do you diagram the “most” arrow?
“Most” arrows only go one way
How would you diagram the sentence “most otters are burglars”?
Who are the other 4 members of the “most” family?
- Usually
- Probably
- Mostly
- More often than not
What is “the most implication”?
You can read a “most” statement backwards as long as you switch the “some” to “most” when you do.
The most implication states that the majority of something in one category (otters) is also in another category (burglars). Because of this, some of the other category (burglars) also overlaps with the original category (otters).
most otters are burglars
Otters - m → burglars
Therefore:
Burglars ←s → otters
