Q24 - It is popularly believed

[Misti Duvall]

I must respectfully disagree with Pat's following example.

"Bob is left handed. Thus, Bob is clumsy.
Here, we can say this IS a necessary assumption.
(A) If someone is left handed, then they are clumsy."

(A) is actually a sufficient assumption to allow you to draw the conclusion from the premise. But (A) is too strong. I don't need "everyone" who's left handed to be clumsy. I just need "Bob" to be clumsy to make the argument. A necessary assumption in that case would be: If someone is left handed, then it is possible that s/he is clumsy.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hmm, generally I agree with you and think the example probably illustrates more Patrick's point about the weirdness of negating conditionals. It's possible (though not common) for an assumption to be both necessary and sufficient, which might be what was intended here. But I think the larger point about negating conditionals is the one to focus on.

Hope this helps.

[ldfdsa]

I must respectfully disagree with Pat's following example.

"Bob is left handed. Thus, Bob is clumsy.
Here, we can say this IS a necessary assumption.
(A) If someone is left handed, then they are clumsy."

(A) is actually a sufficient assumption to allow you to draw the conclusion from the premise. But (A) is too strong. I don't need "everyone" who's left handed to be clumsy. I just need "Bob" to be clumsy to make the argument. A necessary assumption in that case would be: If someone is left handed, then it is possible that s/he is clumsy.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Both yours and Pat's are Neccesary assumptions.
Conditional arguments can have many neccesary assumptions.