Critical Thinking Workflow

Critical Thinking Workflow

7-skill end-to-end process: reframe → surface assumptions → clean reasoning → downstream effects → calibrate confidence → make tradeoffs explicit.

Workflow Overview

[1] Question Upgrader
        |
        v
[2] Assumption Extractor
        |
        v
[3a] Fallacy Detector ----+---- [3b] Bias Auditor
        (parallel)        |         (parallel)
                          v
              [4] Second-Order Thinker
                          |
                          v
              [5] Epistemic Reasoner
                          |
                          v
              [6] Tradeoff Articulator

Steps

Step 1 — Question Upgrader

Skill: question-upgrader Goal: Verify we are solving the right problem before investing in an answer Input: Problem as currently framed Output: Upgraded question(s), named framing weakness, hidden assumption in the question, the question being avoided Skip if: Framing has already been challenged and a better question is agreed on

"Step 1 시작" or "질문부터 업그레이드해줘"

Step 2 — Assumption Extractor

Skill: assumption-extractor Goal: Surface factual, causal, value, and definitional assumptions the argument rests on Input: Upgraded framing from Step 1 Output: Assumption map across four categories (load-bearing / significant / peripheral); most dangerous assumption named Skip if: Assumptions have already been explicitly stress-tested

"Step 2 시작" or "숨겨진 전제 찾아줘"

Step 3a + 3b — Fallacy Detector + Bias Auditor (parallel)

Skills: fallacy-detector and bias-auditor Goal: Check that the argument structure is sound (3a) and the judgment is free of cognitive distortion (3b) Input: Core argument and rationale from Step 2 Output 3a: Named fallacies with location in argument; narrative fallacy assessment; worst structural error Output 3b: Active biases across three layers; primary bias and what it distorts Skip 3a if: The analysis is a plan with no explicit reasoning chains to evaluate Skip 3b if: No expressed confidence or judgment calls are present

"Step 3 시작" or "논리 오류랑 편향 같이 봐줘"

Step 4 — Second-Order Thinker

Skill: second-order-thinker Goal: Map downstream effects across five mechanisms with timing labels Input: Step 2 assumptions + Step 3 structural and bias findings Output: Consequence chain; critical second-order effect with time horizon and leading indicator Skip if: Decision affects only the immediate actor with no systemic or behavioral ripple

"Step 4 시작" or "2차 효과 분석해줘"

Step 5 — Epistemic Reasoner

Skill: epistemic-reasoner Goal: Separate what is actually known from what is believed; calibrate confidence to evidence Input: Claims and evidence surfaced across Steps 1–4 Output: Calibrated confidence label per core claim (high / moderate / low / speculation); gap from stated confidence; analogy verdict if applicable Skip if: All claims are already framed as exploratory with no stated certainty

"Step 5 시작" or "확신 수준 보정해줘"

Step 6 — Tradeoff Articulator

Skill: tradeoff-articulator Goal: Make the cost structure of the preferred option fully visible — including hidden axes Input: Full picture from Steps 1–5; option(s) under consideration Output: Hidden tradeoff axes surfaced; qualitative matrix; concrete opportunity costs; unavoidable tension named Skip if: No real choice exists — only one viable option remains after prior steps

"Step 6 시작" or "트레이드오프 정리해줘"

State Tracking

Tell me which step you're on and I'll pick up from there:

• "가정은 이미 정리됐어, 2차 효과부터" → Step 4로 직행
• "Step 3부터" → run fallacy-detector and bias-auditor in parallel

What Claude Does / What You Do

Related Skills

• Individual skills: cognition:question-upgrader, cognition:assumption-extractor, cognition:fallacy-detector, cognition:bias-auditor, cognition:second-order-thinker, cognition:epistemic-reasoner, cognition:tradeoff-articulator
• Before: think:deep-thinking-workflow (open-ended ideation before stress-testing)
• After: pm:pm-strategy-workflow (when findings inform product strategy)