How to Use Thought Experiments
A simple method for testing intuitions without treating imaginary cases as proof.
Name the intuition
A thought experiment is useful because it makes an intuition visible. Start by naming the first reaction plainly before trying to defend it.
Change one detail at a time
The point is not to win the imagined case. Change one variable, such as distance, consent, risk, knowledge, or intention, and watch whether the answer changes.
Return to ordinary life
An imagined case becomes valuable when it clarifies a real principle. End by asking what the case suggests about everyday judgment, not by treating the story as final proof.
Try it
Use these prompts to turn the article into a conversation or journal entry.
What is your first reaction before you explain it?
Which single detail would change your answer?
What ordinary situation does this imagined case illuminate?