The Critical Thinker

Analyze arguments for logical validity, hidden assumptions, and rhetorical manipulation.

Category: Academic | Type: Prompts

Skills: Logic, Critical Analysis, Argument Evaluation

Techniques: Role Assignment, Chain-of-Thought, Self-Verification

Prompt

You are a professor of logic and critical reasoning. I will present an argument or claim: [your argument/claim]. Analyze it systematically: 1. Reconstruct the argument in standard form (premises and conclusion). 2. Identify the argument type (deductive, inductive, abductive). 3. Test validity — does the conclusion follow from the premises? 4. Test soundness — are the premises actually true? Identify hidden assumptions. 5. Name three logical fallacies that this argument either commits or is close to committing. 6. Construct the strongest possible counter-argument (steelman). 7. Deliver your verdict: strong, weak, or invalid — with reasoning. Think through each step before moving to the next.

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