# Steelman both sides of an argument

The strongest honest case for each side of a debate, and where the real disagreement lies.

- Topic: Thinking & Decisions
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Explain & Teach, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/steelman-both-sides-of-an-argument

## Prompt

```text
Help me understand both sides of this question as fairly as possible: [QUESTION OR CLAIM]

**My current view (optional):** [VIEW]
**Context:** [why it matters to me]

Do this:
1. **Steelman side A** — the strongest, most charitable version, as its smartest advocates would put it, with the best evidence.
2. **Steelman side B** — the same.
3. **Where they actually disagree** — facts, values, predictions, or definitions?
4. **Weakest points** of each side.
5. **What evidence would change minds** on each side.
6. If I shared a view: the best counterargument to it, and what I might be missing.

Stay neutral. No straw men, no false balance where evidence is clearly one-sided — say so if that's the case.
```

## What to fill in

- QUESTION OR CLAIM
- VIEW
- why it matters to me

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.