In the excerpt from "The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone" by James Cross Giblin, the type of reasoning shown is:
- Moving from the big picture of hieroglyphics being both representations of sounds and symbols to the details of Thothmes' and Ramesses' names.
This reasoning is evident as Champollion, the scholar mentioned in the excerpt, initially grasps the broader concept that hieroglyphs are a combination of sound representations and symbols. He then applies this understanding to the specific names of Thothmes and Ramesses, allowing him to gain insights into the entire system of hieroglyphic writing. By understanding the dual nature of hieroglyphs, he was able to decipher the names and unlock the larger structure of the writing system.
This type of deductive reasoning involves starting with a general concept and then applying it to specific instances to draw conclusions or gain deeper insights. In this case, Champollion's realization about the nature of hieroglyphs led him to decode the specific names mentioned, showcasing a top-down analytical approach in understanding the hieroglyphic script.