Kareem Khalifa
Department of Philosophy
Middlebury College
Overview
• Refining the method of
reconstruction
• Digging deeper
Refining the method of reconstruction
• The Goal of Deep Analysis
– To present a passage as a set of sound, noncircular
arguments in standard form
• The Process of Deep Analysis
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Step 1: Identify the Conclusion
Step 2: Omit Irrelevant Information
Step 3: Clarify crucial terms
Step 4: Dissect the relevant propositions
Step 5: Fit the remaining information into common
argument patterns
Step 6: Assess the premises for depth and plausibility;
Step 7: Revise according to Step 6, then go back to Step 5. Stop
when you have sound, noncircular argument in standard form.
Step 5. Fit the remaining information
into common argument patterns
Example of Step 5:
Romney’s Argument
1. All who deny the Holocaust and seek to carry out
genocide are bad people.
2. Ahmedinejad denied the Holocaust.
3. Ahmedinejad seeks to carry out genocide.
4.  Ahmedinejad is a bad person. (1-3)
5. The U.S. must prevent all bad people from having the
capability to launch nuclear weapons.
6. The U.S. must prevent Ahmedinejad from having
the capability to launch nuclear weapons. (4-5)
Step 5 Again
1. If the Defense of Marriage Act is right, then
states should not have power over issues
concerning marriage.
2. States should have power over issues
concerning marriage.
3.  The Defense of Marriage Act is not right.
Exercise I.2
• Not everybody whom you invited is going to
come to your party. Some of them won't
come. So this room should be big enough.
1. If some invitees don’t come to the party,
then this room should be big enough for the
party.
2. Some invitees won’t come to the party.
3.  This room should big enough for the party.
I.6
• The most surprising news of all is that Johnson
dropped out of the race because he thought his
opponent was better qualified than he was for
the office.
1. Johnson thought that his opponent was better
qualified than he was for the office.
2. If Johnson thought that his opponent was better
qualified than he was for the office, then
Johnson dropped out of the race.
3.  Johnson dropped out of the race.
I.8
• It seems to me that married people are
happier, so marriage must be a good thing, or
at least I think so.
• Married people are happier than unmarried
people.
• If married people are happier than unmarried
people, then marriage is a good thing.
•  Marriage is a good thing.
Exercise II.1
I know that Pat can’t be a father, because she is
not male. So she cannot be a grandfather either.
1. If Pat can be a father, then Pat is a male.
2. Pat is not a male.
3.  Pat cannot be a father.
4. If Pat can be a grandfather, then Pat is male.
2. Pat is not a male.
5.  Pat cannot be a grandfather.
Diagram for II.1
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5
Alternatively…
1. If Pat can be a father or a grandfather, then
Pat is a male.
2. Pat is not male.
3.  Pat cannot be a father and Pat cannot be a
grandfather.
Diagram for Alternative
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2
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II.4
Mercury is known to be the only metal that is liquid at room
temperature, so a pound of mercury would be liquid in this room,
which is at room temperature, and it would also conduct electricity,
since all metals do. Therefore some liquids conduct electricity.
1. A metal is liquid at room temperature if and only if it’s mercury.*
2. Anything in this room is at room temperature.
3.  If mercury is in this room, then it is liquid.
*Technically, this part of the passage would be invalid if translated
literally. Can you see why? I have been charitable.
4. All metals conduct electricity.
5. Liquid mercury is a metal.
6.  Liquid mercury conducts electricity.
7.  Some liquids conduct electricity.
Diagram for II.4
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IV
1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Some situations require attacking Iran’s weaponry immediately to
ensure the security of the United States of America.
The President need not seek authorization from the whole Congress if
and only if a situation requires attacking Iran’s weaponry immediately to
ensure the security of the United States of America.
 In some situations, the President need not seek authorization from
the whole Congress. (1,2)
Some situations do not require attacking Iran’s weaponry immediately to
ensure the security of the United States.
 In some situations, the President must seek authorization from the
whole Congress. (4,2)
There may come a time when the President needs the approval of the
Congress.
If there may come a time when the President needs the approval of the
Congress, the President should consult with the leaders of Congress.
 The President should consult with the leaders of Congress. (6,7)
Diagram for IV
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More on Step 5…
• This often involves stating implicit (suppressed,
hidden) premises.