5.5 Simplifying Propositions Into Standard Logical Form - From "The Reasonable Person" by Mark Grannis

One of the key steps in thinking and arguing logically is reducing down language into standard logical form. Humans speak in different types of modes and expressions and this isn't always conducive to understanding the meaning behind those expressions as a logical proposition. And so rephrasing what someone is saying into its simplest logical form helps to get at the heart of the power, or lack thereof, of their thinking. "Recall our 'golden rule' for dealing with ambiguity of terms: 'To unmake an ambiguity, make a distinction.' To apply a similar principle to propositions, we might say, 'To clarify a confusing proposition, ask questions.'" 

There are four steps which can help us simplify information into standard logical form. Now this may involve the changing of words or terms, and that is okay, as long as the deeper meaning is the same. 

1) "Our first step should be to unpack any language that is figurative rather than literal:" Here we have to see to the deeper meaning of a metaphorical language. If I say that "It's raining cats and dogs outside.", it is necessary to see beyond the phrasing to its actual meaning. We could translate this to: "The weather right now is producing a lot of rain." 

2) "Second, identify the subject and predicate we will use in our translated proposition." Here we must precisely identify what the subject and predicate are. In other words, what is the thing itself versus what is being attributed or denied of that thing. Brackets here can be used to enclose subject and predicate (which often contain more than one word). "Also remember that both subject and predicate can be as complicated as they need to be in order to permit the use of a linking verb as the copula." We could then put the example in a form like this: {The weather right now} is {producing a lot of rain}. 

3) "Third, remember to add 'tw' or 'twi' as appropriate to change both subject and predicate into units that operate like nouns." To keep the standard form of subject, verb to be, and predicate, we must use "that which" or "that which is" to keep the predicate as a noun. We could continue with the example like this: All {The weather right now} is {that which produces a lot of rain}. 

4) "Fourth, identify the quality and quantity of the proposition."
When determining the quality of the propositions it is tempting to convert everything into a universal affirmative proposition, but we really should ask if the original statement is affirming or negating the subject and predicate of each other. If it implies a negating then we should use the universal negative E instead of A. "Try not to make the common rookie mistake of forcing every natural-language statement into an affirmative form, because some statements, like 'Cheaters never win,' or 'You can't always get what you want,' clearly suggest a negative form." 

For quantity one must determine whether the subject and predicate involved are involving all or only some in their distribution. This, again, can be hidden by tricky phrases and words. 

All dogs go to heaven. 

All {dogs} are {tw go to heaven}. A proposition

All's well that ends well. 

All {events that are well} are {events that end well}. A proposition 

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

All {this situation/thing} is {tw has corruption}. A proposition 

What's done cannot be undone.

All {events that are done} are {tw cannot be undone}. A proposition

All that glitters is not gold. 

Some {things that attract us} are not {actually good}. O proposition 

All that is gold does not glitter. 

Some {things that are actually good} are not {tw are attractive}. O proposition

Hand me the book.

This is a command, not an indicative mood. 

Beggars can't be choosers.

No {beggars} are {tw can choose}. E proposition 

Not every flower is fragrant. 

Some {flowers} are not {fragrant}. O proposition 

The clever are not always the wise. 

Some {clever people} are not {wise}. O proposition

Many a true word is spoken in jest. 

Some {true words} are {spoken in jest}. I proposition

Thoroughly worldly people never understand the world. 

No {thoroughly worldly people} are {tw understand the world}. E proposition 

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. 

No {good tree} is {tw brings forth evil fruit}. E proposition 

Blessed are the poor in spirit. 

All {the poor in spirit} are {tw are blessed}. A proposition

You can fool all of the people some of the time. 

Some {times} are {tw one can fool all of the people}. I proposition 

You can fool some of the people all of the time. 

Some {people} are {tw can be fooled all of the time}. I proposition 

You can't fool all of the people all of the time. 

All {people} are {tw is not able to be fooled all of the time.} A proposition

Power corrupts. 

All {power} is {tw corrupts}. A proposition

All is fair in love and war. 

All {actions} are {tw are fair in love and war}. A proposition

You can't win 'em all. 

Some {situations} are not {tw is able to be won}. O Proposition 

No pain, no gain. 

All {times there is no pain} are {times there is no gain}. A proposition

Many are called, but few are chosen. 

This is more than one proposition. 

The course of true love never did run smooth. 

No {course of true love} is {tw which runs smooth}. E proposition

Keeping one's sanity is not always easy. 

Some {times of keeping one's sanity} is not {easy}. O proposition