Analysis 2
Directions:  Rationally reconstruct the following examples.

1.  Marina shouldn’t treat Milton so cruelly.  She wouldn’t like it if he did that to her.

Marina wouldn’t like it if Milton treated Marina cruelly.

Marina shouldn’t treat Milton cruelly.

Argument

P1:  If person x wouldn’t want person y to do z  to x, then x should not do z to y.

P1

2.  Veronica didn’t know there was a coup in Thailand because she doesn’t know what a coup is.

Veronica doesn’t know what a coup is. 

Veronica didn’t know there was a coup in Thailan.

Explanation

P1:  If person x doesn’t know the meaning of ‘y’, then x doesn’t know when y occurs.

P1

3. It’s good to stop working once you reach retirement age because otherwise you’re taking the job away from someone who needs the money more. 

People who work beyond retirement age are preventing more needy people from getting work.

It is good to stop working at retirement age.

Argument

P1:  If person x’s actions y prevent persons z from thriving, then it is good for x not to do y.

P1

4.  Smokers should be encouraged to switch to snuff because it gives them the same nicotine high but isn’t as bad for you.

Snuff gives the same high as smoking but it isn’t as unhealthy.

People who smoke should be encouraged to use snuff in place of smoking.

Argument

P1:  If x provides the same benefit as y and less harm, then x should be used in place of y.

P1

5.  The main reason that people try to be funny is to keep from being criticized.

Being funny deflects criticism.

People try to be funny.

Explanation

P1:  If x’s action y will lessen suffering by x, then x will do y.

P1

6.  Kids should play sports because the injuries they’ll get teach them how to endure pain.

The injuries kids get playing sports teaches them to endure pain.

Kids should play sports.

Argument

P1:  If person x receives some benefit from doing y, then x should do y.

P1

. 
7.  People who drink alcohol make more money than people who don’t because drinkers are more sociable than non drinkers.

People who drink are more sociable than people who don’t drink.

People who drink alcohol make more money than people who don’t drink alcohol.

Explanation

P1:  If person x is more sociable than person y, then x will make more money than y.

P1

8.  People who drink alcohol make more money than people who don’t. A study showing that was just published in the Journal of Labor Research. 
A study in the JLR concludes that people who drink alcohol make more money then people who don’t.

People who drink alcohol make more money than people who don’t.

Argument

P1:  If a scientific study concludes that x, then x.

P1

9.  The best way to fight the obesity epidemic is to tax high fat foods. When French Fries cost twice as much, people will eat less.  That’s all there is to it.

Taxing high fat foods will make people eat less of it.

High fat foods should be taxed.

Argument

P1:  If action x will modify destructive behavior y, then x should be done.

P1

10.  I totally agree with banning junk food vending machines from elementary and high school campuses.  After all, we don’t allow cigarette machines!

Cigarette vending machines have been banned from K-12 campuses (and cigarettes are like junk food.)

Junk food vending machines should be banned from K-12 campuses.

Explanation

P1:  If x has been prohibited and y is similar to x, then y should be prohibited.

P1