SAYLOR ACADEMY PHIL102 COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Conversational Implicature. Answer: Information inferred but not
explicitly stated in a conversation
◉ Implied Meaning. Answer: Suggested meaning not directly stated
◉ Reportive Definition. Answer: Dictionary-like definition reflecting
common word usage
◉ Stipulative Definition. Answer: Assigns a new meaning to a term
◉ Precising Definition. Answer: Clarifies a previously vague or fuzzy
meaning
◉ Persuasive Definition. Answer: Definition aiming to persuade the
listener towards a specific interpretation
◉ evaluation criteria for a reportive definition. Answer: good: if it
accurately reflects the current usage of a term by being neither too broad
nor too narrow.
,◉ evaluation criteria for a stipulative definition. Answer: good if it's not:
a) circular: defines the term in question with the very term itself. Ex:
defining "painkiller" as "that which kills pain" does not provide new
information.
b) inconsistent: presents incompatible ideas.
Ex: defining "cat" as "a creature that meows but is silent", is inconsistent
c) obscure: unclear.
Ex: defining "sprint" as "a short race" is unclear, since "short" is vague.
◉ Factual Dispute. Answer: Disagreement involving facts
◉ Verbal Dispute. Answer: Misunderstanding due to vague or
ambiguous terms
◉ Sufficient Condition. Answer: guarantees an event
◉ Antecedent. Answer: - Word, phrase, or clause referred to by a
pronoun
- sufficient condition
, ex: "If it is a dog, then it is an animal" >
- Being a dog is sufficient for being an animal.
- We can also say that without "it" being an animal, it can't be a dog.
- So, the claim that being a dog is a sufficient condition, and that being
an animal is a necessary condition.
◉ Necessary Condition. Answer: Condition essential for the occurrence
of another event
◉ Consequent. Answer: - Outcome of the hypothetical condition
- necessary condition
ex: "If it is a dog, then it is an animal" >
- Being a dog is sufficient for being an animal.
- We can also say that without "it" being an animal, it can't be a dog.
- So, the claim that being a dog is a sufficient condition, and that being
an animal is a necessary condition.
◉ Obscure sentence. Answer: sentence that lacks clarity. It can be
ambiguous, vague, or incomplete
◉ ambiguous. Answer: multiple determinate meanings are possible
because a word in the sentence has multiple determinate meanings
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Conversational Implicature. Answer: Information inferred but not
explicitly stated in a conversation
◉ Implied Meaning. Answer: Suggested meaning not directly stated
◉ Reportive Definition. Answer: Dictionary-like definition reflecting
common word usage
◉ Stipulative Definition. Answer: Assigns a new meaning to a term
◉ Precising Definition. Answer: Clarifies a previously vague or fuzzy
meaning
◉ Persuasive Definition. Answer: Definition aiming to persuade the
listener towards a specific interpretation
◉ evaluation criteria for a reportive definition. Answer: good: if it
accurately reflects the current usage of a term by being neither too broad
nor too narrow.
,◉ evaluation criteria for a stipulative definition. Answer: good if it's not:
a) circular: defines the term in question with the very term itself. Ex:
defining "painkiller" as "that which kills pain" does not provide new
information.
b) inconsistent: presents incompatible ideas.
Ex: defining "cat" as "a creature that meows but is silent", is inconsistent
c) obscure: unclear.
Ex: defining "sprint" as "a short race" is unclear, since "short" is vague.
◉ Factual Dispute. Answer: Disagreement involving facts
◉ Verbal Dispute. Answer: Misunderstanding due to vague or
ambiguous terms
◉ Sufficient Condition. Answer: guarantees an event
◉ Antecedent. Answer: - Word, phrase, or clause referred to by a
pronoun
- sufficient condition
, ex: "If it is a dog, then it is an animal" >
- Being a dog is sufficient for being an animal.
- We can also say that without "it" being an animal, it can't be a dog.
- So, the claim that being a dog is a sufficient condition, and that being
an animal is a necessary condition.
◉ Necessary Condition. Answer: Condition essential for the occurrence
of another event
◉ Consequent. Answer: - Outcome of the hypothetical condition
- necessary condition
ex: "If it is a dog, then it is an animal" >
- Being a dog is sufficient for being an animal.
- We can also say that without "it" being an animal, it can't be a dog.
- So, the claim that being a dog is a sufficient condition, and that being
an animal is a necessary condition.
◉ Obscure sentence. Answer: sentence that lacks clarity. It can be
ambiguous, vague, or incomplete
◉ ambiguous. Answer: multiple determinate meanings are possible
because a word in the sentence has multiple determinate meanings
