---
name: conceptual-analysis
description: Analyze philosophical concepts through examination of necessary and sufficient conditions, identify counterexamples, clarify conceptual boundaries, and resolve ambiguities
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - Bash
---

# Conceptual Analysis Skill

Analyze philosophical concepts rigorously through systematic examination of conditions, boundaries, and counterexamples.

## Overview

The Conceptual Analysis skill enables systematic examination of philosophical concepts through identification of necessary and sufficient conditions, discovery of counterexamples, clarification of conceptual boundaries, resolution of ambiguities, and exploration of conceptual relations.

## Capabilities

### Necessary Conditions Analysis
- Identify what must be present for concept application
- Test necessity through counterexample
- Distinguish essential from accidental features
- Examine conceptual requirements
- Assess condition adequacy

### Sufficient Conditions Analysis
- Determine what guarantees concept application
- Test sufficiency through cases
- Evaluate completeness of conditions
- Identify jointly sufficient conditions
- Refine condition sets

### Counterexample Generation
- Construct cases testing conditions
- Identify edge cases and borderline instances
- Challenge proposed definitions
- Test conceptual boundaries
- Refine analysis through counterexample

### Conceptual Clarification
- Resolve ambiguities and vagueness
- Distinguish related concepts
- Map conceptual relations
- Identify family resemblances
- Develop precise definitions

### Philosophical Application
- Apply analysis to philosophical problems
- Connect to philosophical debates
- Evaluate competing analyses
- Develop original analyses
- Contribute to conceptual understanding

## Usage Guidelines

### When to Use
- Analyzing philosophical concepts
- Developing definitions
- Evaluating philosophical positions
- Clarifying argumentation
- Teaching philosophical method

### Best Practices
- Begin with intuitive understanding
- Test conditions systematically
- Generate diverse counterexamples
- Consider context sensitivity
- Engage with existing literature

### Integration Points
- Thought Experiment Design skill
- Formal Logic Analysis skill
- Argument Mapping and Reconstruction skill
- Philosophical Writing and Argumentation skill

## References

- Conceptual Analysis and Clarification process
- Ontological Analysis process
- Philosophical Paper Drafting process
- Metaphysics and Epistemology Agent
- Logic Analyst Agent
