difference between diagramming for JTC and assumption ?s

[rachue]

Hi,

I am just trying to fully grasp the difference between justify the conclusion and assumption questions.

In the book, assumption questions are diagrammed as follows:

conclusion (valid) ---> assumption (true)

Would it also follow that a justify the conclusion question would be diagrammed this way:

premise (JTC answer choice) ---> conclusion ?

Therefore, in a way, are the two question types reversals of each other?

[Dave Killoran]

In a sense I guess you could say that, but that misses a lot of what distinguishes these questions. The real focus should be on the idea that a Justify question focuses on what is sufficient, and an Assumption question focuses on what is necessary. When viewed from that angle--which is the gist of the discussion in the book--then they focus on entirely different elements. I tend not to call it a reversal because that implies something is wrong, which is not the case here, because different elements are in play (statements in an answer choice versus unstated elements in a stimulus), and because that's not truly the relationship between the two.

Does that make sense?

[rachue]

Yes, I think so. Thanks.