Critical Thinking Framework

Overview

Critical thinking systematically evaluates arguments by decomposing them into claims, evidence, reasoning, and assumptions. It identifies where arguments are strong, weak, or fallacious — not to "win" debates but to arrive at better-justified conclusions.

Framework

IRON LAW: Separate the Argument from the Person

Evaluate the ARGUMENT (claim + evidence + reasoning), not the person
making it. A bad person can make a good argument. A trusted expert
can make a bad argument. Ad hominem (attacking the person) and appeal
to authority (trusting the person) are both fallacies.

Argument Structure