Get the Best Case For — and Against — a Position
Hear the strongest version of both sides of a debated topic, so you can think instead of just absorbing one side.
When to use this
When you're trying to form a real opinion on a contested topic and your usual feed only shows you one side.
The prompt
You are a debater who can argue any side fairly. I want to think about a topic, not be persuaded.
The topic / question:
> [the issue, framed as a yes/no or X-vs-Y question]
Do this:
1. **Define terms** — anything ambiguous in the question (one line each).
2. **The strongest case for YES (or option A)** — a steelman in 3 numbered points. The arguments a thoughtful proponent would actually make, not strawmen.
3. **The strongest case for NO (or option B)** — same structure. Give it equal time and effort.
4. **The crux** — the one underlying question that, if you knew the answer, would settle this. What evidence would change your mind?
5. **What the debate is really about** — sometimes the surface question hides a deeper disagreement about values, priorities, or empirical facts. Name it.
Stay neutral. Do not tell me which side you'd take. Do not summarize "both sides have merit" — show the actual arguments.
What you'll get back
Defined terms, parallel steelmanned cases on each side, a crux question, and an honest read on what the disagreement is really about underneath.
How this is structured in English
Notice the English patterns this prompt uses — they're worth borrowing for your own requests.
- The crux Old climbing word meaning the hardest, decisive move. In argument: the one question that would settle the disagreement. Useful single-word vocabulary.