critical-thinking

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Analyze arguments, detect biases, evaluate claims, and improve reasoning. Use when asked to fact-check, identify logical fallacies, evaluate arguments, analyze predictions, find root causes, or think adversarially about plans. Triggers include "evaluate this argument", "logical fallacies", "fact check", "analyze the claims", "identify biases", "devil's advocate", "red team this", "root cause".

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[Fact Checking]

When & Why to Use This Skill

The Critical Thinking Claude skill provides a comprehensive framework for rigorous argument analysis, bias detection, and logical reasoning. It empowers users to fact-check complex claims, identify logical fallacies, and perform adversarial 'red team' thinking to uncover hidden risks and improve decision-making quality.

Use Cases

  • Fact-checking and Evidence Assessment: Evaluate the validity of specific claims by distinguishing between verified evidence and subjective assertions.
  • Red Teaming and Adversarial Analysis: Identify weaknesses in business plans or strategic proposals by thinking like an opponent to find potential points of failure.
  • Root Cause Identification: Analyze past mistakes or complex problems to move beyond symptoms and find the primary underlying issues.
  • Bias and Fallacy Detection: Scan articles, reports, or arguments to uncover cognitive biases, logical inconsistencies, and contested viewpoints.
  • Decision Upgrading: Synthesize novel insights (alpha) from complex information and structure them into 'idea compasses' or visual maps for better clarity.
namecritical-thinking
descriptionAnalyze arguments, detect biases, evaluate claims, and improve reasoning. Use when asked to fact-check, identify logical fallacies, evaluate arguments, analyze predictions, find root causes, or think adversarially about plans. Triggers include "evaluate this argument", "logical fallacies", "fact check", "analyze the claims", "identify biases", "devil's advocate", "red team this", "root cause".

Critical Thinking

Rigorous analysis of arguments, claims, and reasoning.

Pattern Selection

Intent Pattern When to Use
Claim evaluation analyze_claims Assess truth claims with evidence
Prediction analysis extract_predictions Identify and assess predictions
Extraordinary claims extract_extraordinary_claims Claims contradicting consensus
Controversial ideas extract_controversial_ideas Contested viewpoints analysis
Error analysis analyze_mistakes Learn from past errors
Problem finding extract_primary_problem Root cause identification
Solution analysis extract_primary_solution Evaluate proposed solutions
Adversarial thinking t_red_team_thinking Find weaknesses in plans
Decision upgrade create_upgrade_pack Improve decision-making
Novel insights extract_alpha Most surprising/novel ideas
Thought organization create_idea_compass Structure complex ideas
Mind mapping create_markmap_visualization Visual thinking maps

Decision Flow

User request
    │
    ├─ "evaluate claims/fact check" ──→ analyze_claims
    ├─ "predictions/forecasts" ──→ extract_predictions
    ├─ "controversial/contested" ──→ extract_controversial_ideas
    ├─ "what went wrong/mistakes" ──→ analyze_mistakes
    ├─ "root cause/core problem" ──→ extract_primary_problem
    ├─ "red team/devil's advocate" ──→ t_red_team_thinking
    ├─ "surprising/novel insights" ──→ extract_alpha
    └─ "organize my thinking" ──→ create_idea_compass

Pattern References

See references/ for full patterns:

Output Guidelines

  • Always distinguish claims from evidence
  • Rate confidence levels explicitly
  • Identify logical fallacies by name
  • Present steelman versions of arguments before critiquing
  • Note when evidence is insufficient to conclude
  • Acknowledge uncertainty and areas of genuine disagreement

Chaining Suggestions

  • After analyze_claims → offer extract_primary_problem to find root issues
  • After t_red_team_thinking → offer create_upgrade_pack to address weaknesses
  • After extract_primary_problem → offer extract_primary_solution for solutions