Precise vocabulary (necessary versus sufficient, correlation versus causation, and similar terms) that LSAT logical reasoning answer choices hinge on. Front: the term or phrase. Back: a plain-language definition with an example.
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- Necessary condition
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A condition that must be true for something to occur. Example: Oxygen is necessary for combustion; without it, fire cannot start.- Sufficient condition
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A condition that guarantees something will occur. Example: Having a winning lottery ticket is sufficient to win the lottery.- Correlation
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Two variables that tend to change together without one necessarily causing the other. Example: Height and vocabulary are correlated in children, but height does not cause vocabulary development.- Causation
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A relationship where one thing directly causes another to happen. Example: Striking a match causes it to light.- Assumption
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An unstated premise that an argument depends on to reach its conclusion. Example: An argument that 'Students who study pass the test' assumes that studying improves test performance.- Inference
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A conclusion drawn from given premises or evidence. Example: From 'All birds have feathers' and 'A robin is a bird,' we can infer 'A robin has feathers.'- Weaken (in logical arguments)
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To provide information that undermines or reduces the force of an argument's conclusion. Example: The claim 'Exercise causes weight loss' is weakened by evidence that diet matters more than exercise.- Strengthen (in logical arguments)
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To provide information that supports or reinforces an argument's conclusion. Example: The claim 'Exercise is healthy' is strengthened by studies showing exercise reduces heart disease.- Premise
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Evidence, facts, or reasons that support a conclusion in an argument. Example: In 'All dogs are animals; Fido is a dog,' both sentences are premises supporting the conclusion.- Conclusion
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The main claim or point that an argument is trying to establish. Example: In 'All mammals breathe air, and whales are mammals, therefore whales breathe air,' the final statement is the conclusion.- Counterexample
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A specific example that disproves or contradicts a general claim. Example: A penguin is a counterexample to 'All birds fly.'- Logical fallacy
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A flaw in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or unsound. Example: Ad hominem is a logical fallacy that attacks the speaker rather than addressing their argument.- Red herring
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Irrelevant information introduced to distract from the main issue or argument. Example: In a debate about education policy, claiming the opponent wears ugly ties is a red herring.- Ad hominem
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A logical fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself. Example: 'Your environmental proposal is wrong because you drive a gas-guzzling car.'- Straw man
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A logical fallacy that misrepresents someone's position to make it easier to attack. Example: Someone argues for gun control, and the opponent says they want to 'ban all guns,' which may not be the actual position.
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