Hey all, need some help on some conditional logic.

31.3.18. It is a match the pattern of reasoning argument.

The stimulus:

It is impossible to do science without measuring. It is impossible to measure without having first selected units of measurement. Hence science is arbitrary, since the selection of units is always arbitrary.

Now, the argument and correct answer is easy to spot. However, there is a subtle flaw (yes, I know, it is a match question-but just analyzing the flaw for practice):

The form of argument

Therefore, Science is arbitrary

The flaw is that the author assumes a quality (arbitrary) is applied to all of science, because something necessary for science (selecting units) has that quality...

But sometimes it is not clear when a ‘quality’ like being arbitrary, is a necessary condition or not. The language “selecting units is always arbitrary” seems to imply a conditional relationship: If Selecting units, then arbitrary because of the word “always”.

How do we know that given language like always or everytime (usually a sufficient trigger) is not introducing a necessary condition? Or is it conditional, but for the fact that we say arbitrary is a necessary aspect of science we are going too far as to say that all of science is arbitrary? Or just that when we do science a part of that will be necessarily arbitrary.

It seems that sometimes a quality can be a conditional relationship:

If you’re tall then you’re good at basketball. Or tall people are always good at basketball.

**If it is conditional, then we have:

therefore,

science then arbitrary

And still have a flaw even though the conditional logic lines up? (Valid)

Is it a context issue? Is it an issue where I’m over applying the conditional language cues, but that there is not actually a conditional relationship?

Very much would appreciate any input.

Thanks!