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Converse Error


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  • ola:: Negating the original consequent as the antecedent, does not negate the original antecedent as the consequent
  • @: INPUT[aliases][]
  • Taking a true conditional relationship, under certain insufficient assumptions, and invalidly inferring its converse
    • there may be uncaught alternative antecedents
  • one of the four Mixed Hypothetical Syllogisms
    • the opposite statement, denying the consequent, is valid
  • eg: lamp in dark
    • PREMISE: if the lamp is broken → then the room is dark
    • CONDITION: no other lights in room, nighttime, closed windows (insufficient)
    • CONVERSE: if the room is dark → then the lamp is broken
    • analysis:
      • there are other possible antecedents, uncaught by the condition
        • if lamp is working, but is off
        • if there is no lamp in the room
  • confusion of Necessity and Sufficiency
    • the forward is valid, therefore necessary
      • but the backward is insufficient, therefore invalid
    • it is necessary antecedent that “a lamp is broken” (non-working) for the consequent of a dark room
      • but “a dark room” is an insufficient antecedent for the consequent “a broken lamp”
  • eg: obviously false conclusion
    • syllogism
      • If someone lives in KL, then they live in Malaysia
      • Joe lives in Malaysia
      • Therefore, Joe lives in KL
    • other antecedents exist: there are other states in Malaysia besides KL
    • necessary-sufficiency
      • “living in KL” is necessarily also “living in Malaysia”
      • but “living in Malaysia” is insufficient to be “living in KL”
    • denying the consequent is valid:
      • ¬Q: Ken doesn’t live in Malaysia
      • ¬P: Ken doesn’t live in KL
      • contrapositive of the first statement
  • eg: other antecedents
    • note: wait this isn’t converse error, this is just generalisation?
    • syllogism
      • If animal is a dog, it has four legs
      • cats has four legs
      • Therefore, cat is dog
    • related to Necessity and Sufficiency
      • “four-legged” is necessary to describe “dog animal”
      • but “four-legged” is insufficient to conclude “dog animal”
    • other antecedents exist
      • other antecedents like: If animal is a (cow, deer, etc.)
      • can still lead to the same consequent: then it has four legs

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