364 comments

  • 2 days ago

    So necessary assumptions are different from necessary conditions?

    1
  • Monday, May 25

    Coulda played for the pistons, don't get it twisted

    3
  • Saturday, May 16

    see i love the videos they do such a better job at explaining than the lessons with walls of text, i feel like i would not have processed this as well otherwise

    5
  • Friday, May 1

    they’re talking about Victor Wembanyama here, actually

    6
  • Monday, Apr 27

    #NBA Zaza Pachulia #1

    5
  • Monday, Apr 27

    interesting.

    2
  • Monday, Mar 30
    • Premise: I drink coffee.

    • Conclusion: Therefore, I have been to all cafes in my town.

    • Necessary Assumption: I have a throat to drink. / I am not allergic to caffeine.

    • Sufficient Assumption: I have all cafe names in my town memorized.

    4
    Saturday, Apr 4

    @JiyoonLim I personally think the better necessary assumption would be " I have access to all cafes in my town", "I have not been prohibited from entering any cafe in my town", or "I know where all the cafes in my town are located".

    1
  • Monday, Mar 23

    RIP KOBE

    9
  • Saturday, Jan 17

    I have yet to see a clear distinction/explanation between and 'necessary assumption' and a 'necessary condition' (right side of logic arrow). They seem to be used without a clarification on the differences in meaning or application. There is a little bit of confusion here. NA seem to be different in the use of analyzing the argument vs NC are clearly defined as the right side of the logic arrow.

    3
    Kevin_Lin Instructor
    Sunday, Jan 25

    @SMRegalado A necessary assumption is an assumption of an argument.

    A necessary condition is one part of an if-then relationship.

    The reason they're confused is because they both use the word "necessary." But necessary just means required, and this word can be applied to many different things.

    Some arguments require an assumption to be valid. Those are necessary assumptions.

    Some statements can be expressed as if-then relationships (ex. If A, then B, A requires B). In these statements, B is a necessary condition for A.

    14
    Monday, Jan 26

    @Kevin_Lin I figured as much and came to this conclusion on my own, but i was lost for a while.

    1
    Tuesday, May 26

    @Kevin_Lin So, whether one says 'condition' or 'assumption' depends on the structure of the argument? I understand sufficiency vs. necessity overall, but don't get that distinction (and does that really matter on the test, or is it semantics as long as you get the idea)

    1
  • Monday, Jan 5

    I think of Necessary Assumptions as the foundation an argument depends on in order to function at all. A necessary assumption is something that must be true for the reasoning to apply, even if it does not guarantee the conclusion. For example, consider the argument: “All human beings are moral; therefore, I am moral.” A necessary assumption is that I am a human being. If that assumption were false, the premise would not apply to me, and the argument would collapse. The assumption does not prove the conclusion by itself, but without it, the argument cannot even be made.

    19
    Thursday, Mar 5

    @RyanKelly this literally saved my life. Thank you

    1
  • Friday, Jan 2

    that actually helped me sm

    10
    Edited Tuesday, Jan 6

    @dexter310 same like i didn’t realize how much i needed that lmaoo

    3
  • Edited Monday, May 18

    that imovie-esque explosion of the argument at the end

    8
    Thursday, May 14

    @bokim it's the little things

    1
  • Monday, Dec 8, 2025

    I love this summary: Sufficient assumptions improve the argument but necessary assumptions may not though they are required.

    4
  • Friday, Dec 5, 2025

    Kobe was a horrible dude and if I were the prosecutor at his trial it would have gone down differently #motivation

    4
  • Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025

    Can someone explain the differences between this and Must Be True questions? For both answers, my current understanding is that if negated/falsified, the argument falls apart. Is one just stating the obvious, and another says something specific to the content of the stimulus?

    2
  • Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025

    I'm an English literature writer. Therefore, I'm one of the best writers in the country.

    Necessary Assumption: I know how to use a pen.

    4
    Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025

    @NatashaChander-Levy Depends on how you interpret the meaning of writer.

    You could dictate your literature, and you'd be a writer. Could also type. Or, use a crayon.

    Unless knowledge of how to use a pen is the only way to be a writer, this is not a necessary assumption.

    -1
  • Tuesday, Oct 14, 2025

    I play basketball. Therefore, I am one of the best players in the world.

    Necessary assumption: I am in the world.

    11
  • Tuesday, Oct 7, 2025

    I can eat a cheeseburger. Since its so tasty.

    Nec Assumption: I can use my tastebuds

    or, I can tell the difference between a burger and a piece of glass

    4
  • Friday, Sep 19, 2025

    Michael Jordan would get dominated by prime JY Ping, real hoopers will know

    12
    Friday, Oct 10, 2025

    @TheBigFatPanda Prime MJ < /Prime JY

    2
  • Edited Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025

    I can dribble a ball... that means I have a chance! Just like I have $248 meaning I have a chance at taking the LSAT. Thank you LSAC!

    14
  • Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

    Thank you!! This example really helped me visualize the difference between the two in the context of an argument.

    1
  • Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    Derrick White will win 5 NBA championships and 5 MVPs

    19
    Thursday, May 22, 2025

    stick to the lsat pal

    43
    Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

    @walkerhperryman lmfao JaySON TaBUM not even playing this year and bro talkin about Derrick White chips

    1
    Thursday, Apr 16

    @KabirPuri Spoke to soon, Celtics are #2 in the East without "Jayson Tabum"

    1
  • Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

    Another good way to look at it is what the answer does.

    Sufficient Assumptions are strong answers that make the conclusion stronger. They are there to beef up the logic and make it more likely to be true.

    Necessary assumptions on the other hand are not trying to prove or strengthen anything. Necessary assumptions are proved by the information already in the stimulus. They are almost always weaker than SA because their purpose is not to prove the conclusion correct but to be required by the logic of the Existing facts. They are often unassuming almost "Duh, obviously" type answers. Be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that an NA answer is too weak to be right. It is not supposed to be powerful, but provable.

    36
  • Saturday, Jan 25, 2025

    If I said, "there are few to no other basketball players in the world that are better than me. " Can that be a necessary assumption.

    1
    Friday, Feb 14, 2025

    That is a great question.

    0
    Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

    It is not. Necessary assumptions are not proving the argument they are proved by the stim. there is nothing in the stim to support that statement so this would be a sufficient assumption.

    4
    Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025

    I think that would be a necessary assumption. That statement is enough to guarantee you being one of the best basketball players in the world (sufficient), but it also must be true for you to even be in consideration (necessary).

    0
    Sunday, Feb 23, 2025

    Thanks kelly, hopefully one of the staff will answer it soon. #help!

    1
  • Saturday, Jan 25, 2025

    RIP Kobe

    15

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