Legal Definitions - necessary inference

Necessary Inference

A necessary inference is a conclusion that must be true if the premise or fact on which it is based is taken to be true. For example, if we know that "all dogs have fur," then it is necessary to infer that "my dog has fur."

• If we know that "all birds can fly," then it is necessary to infer that "eagles can fly."
• If we know that "all students in this class are over 18," then it is necessary to infer that "some students in this class are over 20."

These examples illustrate how a necessary inference works. If we accept the premise as true, then the conclusion must also be true. It is a logical deduction that follows from the given information.