LSAT Strategies: Logical Force

What is Logical Force?

Measure of how strong a proposition is

Small, easily overlooked words provide logical force of structures

Two Types of Logical Force

1. Modality

2. Quantification

What is Modality?

Degree of necessary expressed by proposal, how certain an object is that something will occur (Certain, probably, small chance)

Weak Modality

Possibility, more than 0%

Key Terms for Weak Modality

Many, could, might, can, occasionally

Moderate Modality

Probability, more than 50%

Key Terms for Moderate Modality

Probably, likely, usually

Strong Modality

Necessity, 100% chance

Key Terms for Strong Modality

Will, must, definitely, always, necessarily, do/does

What is Quantification?

How many things make a certain quality

Weak Quantification

Possibility, at least one

Key Terms for Weak Quantification

Some, a few, several

Catch for Many and a significant # (BE CAREFUL)

Moderate Quantification

Probability, more than half

Key Terms for Moderate Quantification

Most, majority, over half

Strong Quantification

Necessity, 100%

Key terms for Strong Quantification

All, any, each, every

Caveat: Most

Most means anything over 50%

Could be 100%

Most OR maybe all

Caveat: Some

Some means anything over 0%

Could be over 50%

Can even be 100%

Some OR most OR Maybe all

Caveat: Most vs. The Most

Most is an absolute claim

The Most is a comparative claim

Why do I care about Logical Force?

In the Implication family, this is the rule:

Conclusions can be supported only by premises of equal or greater strength

Strong can only support strong, moderate can only support moderate and strong, weak can only support all three.