In my post Conversation with Defender of Trump Tweets and Subsequent Threats to Carrier Union Leader, Trump’s challenge to the President’s legitimacy was, for me, in Aristotle’s terms, “Necessary and Sufficient.”
To say that Trump’s “birther” claim was a Necessary & Sufficient Cause for my conclusion that he was unfit to hold any public office, especially President, was an insult to the concept of Sufficient Causes. I can only hope that this serves as a Sufficient apology.
A Sufficient Cause explains without recourse to any other factors or Causes. There is no limit to the number of Sufficient Causes. [In Trump’s case, the “birther” thing was only the first of many, many, many, “Oh My God”, so many many… Sufficient Causes.] A Necessary Cause is required before any other factors function. Therefore, Sufficient Causes are in a separate exalted league from Necessary Causes, “A Difference in Kind.” To call a Sufficient Cause “Necessary and Sufficient” is an insult to a Sufficient Cause, and I apologize.
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