Premise vs. Conclusion

Argument stimulus

Set of statements wherein one statement is claimed to follow from or be derived from the others.

Premise --> Conclusion

Simple argument

Inference

Something that must be true (follows after an argument- conclusion)

Conclusion Identification Method

Take statements under consideration for conclusion and place them in an arrangement that forces one to be the conclusion and the other(s) to be the premise(s). Use indicators.

Validity in LSAT?

What is the logical relationship of the pieces of the argument and how well do the premises, if accepted, prove the conclusion?

Assumption

What must be true in order for an argument to be true (taken for granted while making an argument -same as an unstated premise)

Conclusion definition

A statement or judgement that follows from one or more reasons.

Additional premise?

Another premise that supports the conclusion but is sometimes non-essential to the conclusion (Usually comes after the author has already made an argument).

Stimulus

Focus on understanding the relationship of the ideas. Seeing past the topic to analyze the structural relationship present.

Quantity indicators

(All, some, many, etc.) Indicate the quantity in an argument

Probability indicators

(Must, always, should, etc.) Indicate the probability in an argument

The best way of eliminating traffic congestion will not be easily found. There are so many competing possibilities that it will take millions of dollars to study every option, and implementation of most options carries an exorbitant price tag. - Conclusion and premise?

- Conclusion: The best way of eliminating traffic congestion will not be easily found. - Premise: There are so many competing possibilities that it will take millions of dollars to study every option - Premise: And implementation of most options carries an exorbitant price tag

"So, as indicated by the newly released data, we should push forward with our efforts to recolonize the forest with snowy tree crickets." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: As indicated by the newly released data - Conclusion: We should push forward with our efforts to recolonize the forest with snowy tree crickets

During last night's robbery, the thief was unable to open the safe. Thus, last night's robbery was unsuccessful despite the fact that the thief stole several documents. After all, nothing in those documents was as valuable as the money in the safe. - Conclusion, premise, and any additional premises?

- Premise: During last night's robbery, the thief was unable to open the safe. - Counter-premise: Despite the fact that the thief stole several documents. - Additional Premise: After all, nothing in those documents was as valuable as the money in the safe. - Conclusion: Thus, last night's robbery was unsuccessful.

"Given that the price of steel is rising, we will no longer be able to offer discounts on our car parts." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: Given that the price of steel is rising - Conclusion: We will no longer be able to offer discounts on our car parts

"The political situation in Somalia is unstable owing to the ability of individual warlords to maintain powerful armed forces." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: Owing to the ability of individual warlords to maintain powerful armed forces - Conclusion: The political situation in Somalia is unstable

Phenylketonurics are people who cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. There are dangers associated with phenylketonuria, and products containing phenylalanine must carry a warning label that states, "Phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine." In addition, all children in developed societies receive a phenylketonuria test at birth. Hence, at the moment, we are doing as much as possible to protect against this condition. - Conclusion, premise, and any additional premises?

- Premise: Phenylketonurics are people who cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. - Premise: There are dangers associated with phenylketonuria, and products containing phenylalanine must carry a warning label that states, 'Phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.' - Additional Premise: In addition, all children in developed societies received a phenylketonuria test at birth. - Conclusion: "Hence, at the moment, we are doing as much as possible to protect against this condition.

"Since we need to have many different interests to sustain us, the scientists' belief must be incorrect." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: Since we need to have many different interests to sustain us - Conclusion: The scientists' belief must be incorrect

"The rapid diminishment of the ecosystem of the Amazon threatens the entire planet. Consequently, we must take immediate steps to convince the Brazilian government that planned development projects need to be curtailed for the simple reason that these development projects will greatly accelerate the loss of currently protected land." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: The rapid diminishment of the ecosystem of the Amazon threatens the entire planet - Premise 2: For the simple reason that these development projects will greatly accelerate the loss of currently protected land - Conclusion: We must take immediate steps to convince the Brazilian government that planned development projects need to be curtailed

"Television has a harmful effect on society. This can be seen from the poor school performance of children who watch significant amounts of television and from the fact that children who watch more than six hours of television a day tend to read less than non-television watching children." - Premise and conclusion?

- Premise: This can be seen from the poor school performance of children who watch significant amounts of television - Premise 2: And from the fact that children who watch more than six hours of television a day tend to read less than non-television watching children - Conclusion: Television has a harmful effect on society

Wine is made by crushing grapes and eventually separating the juice from the grape skins. However, the separated juice contains impurities and many wineries do not filter the juice. These wineries claim the unfiltered juice ultimately produces a more flavorful and intense wine. Since these wine makers are experts, we should trust their judgment and not shy away from unfiltered wine. - Conclusion, premise, and any additional premises?

- Premise: Wine is made by crushing grapes and eventually separating the juice from the grape skins. - Counter-premise: However, the separated juice contains impurities and many wineries do not filter the juice. - Premise: These wineries claim the unfiltered juice ultimately produces a more flavorful and intense wine. - Premise: Since these wine makers are experts, - Conclusion: We should trust their judgment and not shy away from unfiltered wine.

Premise definition

A fact, proposition, or statement from which a conclusion is made.

Alternative viewpoints indicator formula

A number (some, many, etc.) of people (critics, etc.) believe (claim, purpose, argue) that....

Besides

Additional premise

Furthermore

Additional premise

In addition

Additional premise

Moreover

Additional premise

What's more

Additional premise

Fact set

Collection of statements without a conclusion.

Premise --> Conclusion/Premise --> Conclusion

Complex argument (Middle term takes initial conclusion and uses it as a premise for another conclusion)

Accordingly

Conclusion

As a result

Conclusion

Clearly

Conclusion

Conclude that

Conclusion

Consequently

Conclusion

Follows that

Conclusion

For this reason

Conclusion

Hence

Conclusion

Must be that

Conclusion

Shows that

Conclusion

So

Conclusion

Therefore

Conclusion

Thus

Conclusion

Therefore, since higher debt has forced consumers to lower their savings, banks now have less money to loan. -Conclusion and premise?

Conclusion - Therefore, banks now have less money to loan Premise - since higher debt has forced consumers to lower their savings

Admittedly

Counter-premise

After all

Counter-premise

Although

Counter-premise

But

Counter-premise

Despite

Counter-premise

Even though

Counter-premise

However

Counter-premise

In contrast

Counter-premise

In spite of

Counter-premise

On the other hand

Counter-premise

Still

Counter-premise

Whereas

Counter-premise

Yet

Counter-premise

Counter-premise

Ideas that compare and contrast with the argument or work against a previously raised point

"The Jacksonville area has just over one million residents. Cincinnati has almost two million residents. The New York area has almost twenty million residents. Therefore, we should move to Jacksonville." - Is the author's reasoning valid?

No. The author hasn't proven their point. Why does population affect your reasoning for moving there? Why Jacksonville? What about considerations other than population size?

As indicated by

Premise

Because

Premise

Due to

Premise

For

Premise

For example

Premise

For the reason that

Premise

Given that

Premise

In that

Premise

Owing to

Premise

Since

Premise

This can be seen from

Premise

We know this by

Premise

Because the Vikings have the best wide receiver in football, they therefore have the best offense in football. Because they have the best offense, they will win the Super Bowl. -Conclusion and premise?

Premise - Because the Vikings have the best wide receiver in football Conclusion/Premise - They therefore have the best offense in football Conclusion - They will win the Super Bowl

Scope

Range to which the premises and conclusion encompass certain ideas (narrow vs. broad)

"Trees that shed their foliage annually are deciduous trees. Black Oak trees shed their leaves every year. Therefore, Black Oak trees are deciduous." - Is the author's reasoning valid?

Yes. The two premises lead directly to the conclusion and you aren't left with many questions.