Logical Indicators Basic Translation Groups

LSAT PREP Sage Training – Week 4 All About Logic – Logical Indicators    These words perform a specific function. They lay down the structure of the sentence as opposed to the content. Some, most, few, if then. Example:  If you are a man, you are mortal. o Not informed by the word if. You are informed by the word mortal. o The word “if” lays down the structure of the logical relationship. o “if” establishes that whatever these ideas may be in a particular sentence they exist in a conditional relationship with each other, where the idea following the “if” is the sufficient condition.  Being a man, is being mortal.  Being a man is sufficient to being mortal. Basic Translation Indicators – Group 1:    If, when, where, all, the only, every, any. Ideas introduced by these words are sufficient conditions. Example: o If Zombies attack New York City, the real estate market will slip.  Logical indicator – If  2 main concepts – zombies attack New York, real estate market will slip.  Assign Symbols to main concepts: Z = Zombies and RES = Real Estate  Apply the translation rule: Z – RES  Find the contrapositive: /RES – Z  Translate back to English:  If the real estate market doesn’t slip, then zombies are not attacking New York City. Basic Translation Indicators – Group 2:    Only if, only, only when, only where, always, must, requires. Necessary conditions – immediately following indicator words. Example: o There will be an accomplishment of lasting value only if there is hard work.  Indicator: “Only if”  Concepts: accomplishment of lasting value, there is hard work.  Symbols: ALV – Accomplishment of lasting value and HW for hard work  Translation: ALV – HW  Contrapositive: /HW - / ALV  Translate: if there is no hard work, then there is not an accomplishment of lasting values. Basic Translation Indicators – Group 3:     You pick ither idea and then negate that idea. Then make that idea the sufficient condition. Indicator words: unless, until, or, without Example: o Don’t go to Hawaiiunless you want to have a good time.  Indicator: “Unless”  Unless emphasizes the necessity of what comes after it and warns you about what comes after it.  Concepts: not to go to Hawaii, have a good time  Symbols: H for Hawaii. And GT for Good Time  Translation: /H - /GT  /H and negate it.  H to make it sufficient  Contrapositive: /GT - H  Translate: if you don’t want to have a good time, then don’t go to Hawaii. Basic Translation Indicators – Group 4:    No, None, Not Both, Never, Cannot Pick either idea then negate that idea then make that idea necessary the condition. Example: o None of the American’s attended the dictator’s party.  Indicator: “None”  Concepts: being an American and attending the dictator’s party.  Symbols: A for American and ADP for Attending Dictators Party  Translation: ADP - /A  Contrapositive: A - /ADP  Translate: if you’re an American, then you did not attend the dictator’s party. Group 3 or 4 Indicators:     Sentences with both indicators Can blindly do both and get same result. The other logical indicator as a negation. Example: o Never go to Hawaiiunless you want to have a good time.  Indicator: “Unless”  Concepts: not to go to Hawaii, have a good time  Symbols: H for Hawaii. And GT for Good Time  Translation: /H - GT  Contrapositive: /GT - /H o Second Indicator:     Indicator: Never H and /GT H – GT /GT - /H  “Or” “Either or”    These words are ambiguous. They have 3 meanings. o The “inclusive or” meaning and/or o The exclusive or meaning “or, but not both.” o Simply and Example: o You must siteither at one end of the table or the other end.  “either” “or” = you get one possibility at the exclusion of the other possibility. o Jon enrolls ineither Economics 101or Political Science 101 this semester.  Some think that Jon must take 1 class at the exclusion of the other.  Some think he takes both classes.