Clarification

Lsatkayy

Can someone clarify the distinction between necessary assumption and sufficient assumption questions. I’ve been reading too in to it and it’s gone over my head. Also, to weaken an argument, you want to find an answer choice that is more or less “or this could be the other meaning too” type correct ?

OlamHafuch

Necessary assumption: An assumption that is required for the argument to work. Without it, the argument completely falls apart. Making such an assumption does not, however, necessarily allow the conclusion to be drawn. In other words, there might be a huge gap between the premises and the conclusion, and the necessary assumption closes up only a small part of that gap.
Sufficient assumption: An assumption that, if made, allows the conclusion to be logically drawn. This type of assumption is not necessarily a necessary one to be made. For example, it might overshoot the mark and assume more than what's necessary for the conclusion to be drawn.