Cheatsheet: Critical Thinking: Ask Better Questions and Verify Information in the AI Era
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Module 1: Claims, Evidence, and Fallacies
1.1 Facts, Opinions, and Testable Claims
| Type | Definition | Test | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fact | Statement that can be verified against evidence | Can it be checked? Is it true? | "Water boils at 100°C at sea level." |
| Opinion | Statement of preference, value, or judgment | Can't be proven true/false | "Coffee tastes better than tea." |
| Testable claim | Specific, falsifiable statement about the world | What evidence would prove it wrong? | "This drug lowers blood pressure by 10% in adults." |
| Unfalsifiable claim | No observation could disprove it | Nothing would count as counter-evidence | "The energy is undetectable." |
Three questions for any claim:
- What exactly is being claimed? (Restate it in one sentence.)
- What kind of statement is it: fact, opinion, or testable claim?
- What evidence would support or refute it?
Tip: A claim you cannot imagine disproving is not a testable claim. Treat it as opinion or belief, not evidence.
Vagueness red flags: "many," "studies show," "experts agree," "up to," "linked to," "some say." Ask: how many, which studies, which experts?
1.2 Logical Fallacies in Everyday Arguments
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