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Philosophy vocabulary · Logic and Argument

Necessary condition

Meaning in philosophy, with examples

nounCommon term

In philosophy, necessary condition means: A condition that must be met for something to be true or to happen, although meeting it alone may not be enough.

In Turkish: gerek koşul, zorunlu koşul

How it is used

A is a necessary condition for B if B cannot occur without A (if B, then A). Philosophers often analyze concepts in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions, and mixing the two up is a common source of invalid arguments.

Example sentences

  1. Oxygen is a necessary condition for fire, but it isn't enough on its own.

  2. Is truth a necessary condition for knowledge? Most epistemologists say yes.

Common collocations

  • necessary and sufficient conditions
  • a necessary condition for
  • individually necessary
  • jointly sufficient
  • sufficient conditionA condition that, once it is met, guarantees that something is true or will happen, even if there are other ways it could also come about.
  • logicThe study of correct reasoning, especially of which conclusions follow from which premises and why.
  • entailTo make something logically necessary: if A entails B, then B must be true whenever A is true.
  • knowledgeKnowing that something is the case; traditionally defined as a belief that is true and properly justified, although this definition is disputed.

More terms: Logic and Argument

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