Questioning

Expressing uncertainty or doubt about, or challenging or disputing the accuracy, validity, or truth of a claim, statement, hypothesis, etc.

Rational questions

The following critical questions bring into focus substantive concerns at play, with more specific questions awaiting individual claims in particular domains:

• What is the issue involved and what is the conclusion proferred for acceptance?
• What are the reasons given to support the conclusion?
• To what extent may ambiguous words or phrases comprised in the claim be made clearer and more precise?
• What are the values, assumptions, and preconceptions implied (or stated) in the claim?
• Does the reasoning offered seem to contain any fallacies?
• What is the quality and comprehensiveness of the evidence presented, and does it adequately relate to and sustain the conclusion it purports to support?
• Is there anything substantially deceptive or misleading about the evidence provided?
• What are the alternative views or rival explanations, and how credible are these?
• What pertinent information is absent, and what result will this missing information have upon an effective assessment of this conclusion?
• What other reasonable conclusions would this evidence support?

• Other questions… 

(see also: doubt, openminded scepticism, critical thinking, argument)

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