LSAT Practice Test

What does the presence of "Never" in formal logic signify?

1. Always

2. Impossible

3. Possibility

4. Mutually Exclusive

The correct answer is: Mutually Exclusive

In formal logic, the presence of "Never" signifies that the two conditions being referred to are mutually exclusive. This means that the two conditions cannot both occur at the same time, as they are entirely separate and cannot coexist. This is in contrast to the concept of possibility, which suggests that something may or may not occur, and to the idea of always, which indicates that a condition is constant or without exception. The term "impossible" also does not accurately capture the concept conveyed by "Never" in formal logic, as impossibility suggests that something cannot happen under any circumstances, whereas mutually exclusive conditions could potentially happen, but not simultaneously.