Thought experiments

Definition

A thought experiment constructs a hypothetical scenario — a deliberate 'what if' — to test whether a principle holds, reveal its implications, or expose its limits. The scenario makes no claim about the real world: you build it, reason inside it consistently, and read what the outcome tells you about the principle under test. The hypothetical is the instrument; the principle is the subject.

Memory hook

“Build the fake world to learn about the real principle.”

What it sounds like

• Suppose everyone did this — what would follow?
• Imagine a world where X is true. Where does that lead?
• For the sake of argument, let's grant the principle and see what it entails.
• If we ran the rule forward from this moment, what would we find at the end?