Easily Understand ANYTHING with ChatGPT

The Nugget

Using analogies, metaphors, and Socratic questioning with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can dramatically improve your critical thinking skills and understanding of complex topics. By actively engaging with the model's outputs through follow-up prompts, you move beyond passive information retrieval to deep comprehension.

Make it stick

🧠 LLMs are a powerful tool for supercharging your critical thinking skills when used actively and strategically
🤔 Analogies and metaphors help your brain grasp new concepts by connecting them to familiar ideas
🎲 Inserting random inputs tests your ability to find insightful connections and think laterally
❓ Socratic questioning challenges your understanding and reveals gaps in your knowledge

Passively using LLMs like a search engine by simply asking a question and moving on is one of the worst things you can do for your critical thinking skills.
Actively interacting with the model by asking follow-up questions meant to deepen your understanding (not just get information) can dramatically improve your critical thinking.
The key is engaging with the model's outputs, not just the initial prompt. Use prompting techniques like role assignment in the initial query, but focus on the follow-up.

The human brain thinks in analogies and metaphors, so they are powerful tools for understanding.
After the initial query, ask the LLM for a series of analogies and metaphors to explain the concept at an intuitive level.
Then ask for more technical analogies suitable for experts to deepen your understanding.
Experiment with analogies from specific domains you are familiar with (e.g. sports, banking, parenting) to make connections you readily grasp.

Lateral thinking involves applying knowledge from one domain to an seemingly unrelated one to gain novel insights.
Ask the LLM how a completely random concept or word can help you understand the topic at hand.
The model will break down the random input and find interesting relationships and similarities to your topic.
This forces the LLM to do significant cognitive work in making connections that would be very challenging for a human.
Beware of going down rabbit holes with this technique. Pull back to the core topic if needed.

Have the LLM ask you a series of questions to test if you truly understand the topic.
Short answer/essay format works best. Multiple choice allows guessing.
If the analogies and random inputs worked, these questions should be easy to answer. Refer back to the previous outputs if needed.
The LLM will correct any mistakes in your answers and explain the reasoning.
Voice input can make this stage more conversational and natural compared to typing.

"The human brain thinks in analogies and metaphors, so a metaphor is when you are comparing two unlike things but you're saying that they are the same thing."
"Lateral thinking is when you take your experience or knowledge from one domain and then apply it in a seemingly unrelated domain."
"Socratic questioning comes from the Socratic method which comes from the Greek philosopher Socrates... what Socrates would do is he would ask students, opponents, outright enemies a series of questions that were meant to essentially be yes or no questions often, and what would happen is it would peel away their argument layer by layer and leave them just wondering 'Do I even know what I'm talking about?'"

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.