The necessary and sufficient condition
Example: Understanding the necessary and sufficient condition clarifies logical arguments.
Definition
"The necessary and sufficient condition" refers to a condition or set of conditions that must be present for a statement or proposition to be true, and when present, guarantees its truth. It plays a crucial role in logical reasoning by precisely defining when something applies.
Etymology
The phrase "the necessary and sufficient condition" originates from formal logic and philosophy, combining 'necessary' (meaning indispensable) and 'sufficient' (meaning enough) to express a condition that fully determines truth. Did you know? The distinction was famously formalized by 19th-century logicians to clarify the structure of logical arguments.
Learn to use this word actively
"The necessary and sufficient condition" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Philosophy - (C2) - set 1", containing 120 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
