research · PromptZap Team

Steelman Both Sides

Debiases the model before a big decision: strongest case for each side, the crux underneath, then a clearly-labeled opinion with confidence level.

Framework

standard

Model targets

claude, chatgpt, gemini

Prompt text

I need to make a decision on: [decision/question]. Instead of giving me your opinion first, steelman both sides.

For "yes/option A": give the strongest possible case, as if argued by its best advocate — not a strawman.
For "no/option B": same treatment, strongest possible case.

Then identify: what would have to be true for each side to be right? What's the crux disagreement underneath the surface-level debate? What evidence would change your mind if you currently lean one way?

Only after all of that, give your actual recommendation, clearly labeled as your opinion, with your confidence level and what could make you wrong.