Together, the Three Truth Hammers offer a structured way to gather, test, and communicate ideas. The Five Thought Tools help you frame and evaluate information well. The Four Mind Traps help you avoid common failures in judgment. The Three Truth Hammers help you stress-test claims against the larger systems we rely on to sort truth from error. The goal is not perfect certainty, but better thinking in everyday life.
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TST Framework: Critical Thinking
THINKING PATH: A critical thinking toolkit.
Tue 14 Apr 2026
Published 2 months ago.
Updated 12 hours ago.
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TST Framework: Critical Thinking
By Michael Alan Prestwood
1 of 5
Philosophy
Article
5-4-3: TST Framework Overview
Critical Thinking
The TST Framework is a critical thinking framework with three key components: Thought Tools, Mind Traps, and Truth Hammers. Together, these elements provide a structured approach to understanding and evaluating information. The Five Thought Tools help you gather, frame, and communicate accurate information, the Four Mind Traps help you avoid potholes, and the Three Truth Hammers help you short circuit the gathering of accurate information.
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Critical Thinking
Article
5 Thought Tools: Viewpoint, Ideas, Reasoning, Constructs, and Reflection
Acquiring Knowledge
Thought tools shape how we see reality, evaluate claims, and communicate with others. A basic, top-down understanding of all five tools is enough for everyday life, better decisions, and clearer conversations. Great thinking isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about knowing how to think.
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Critical Thinking
Article
4 Mind Traps: Fallacies, Biases, Heuristics, and Stereotypes
Cognitive Obstacles
You don’t have to defeat every mind trap to think better: you just have to see them. Awareness alone goes a long way. The moment you recognize a fallacy, bias, heuristic, or stereotype at work, its power weakens.
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Updated This Week
Critical Thinking
Article
3 Truth Hammers: Science, Journalism, and Law
- MSM: The Mainstream Media!
- It's not hard to learn how to filter it.
Epistemology and Philosophy of Mind
Truth Hammers are review-based public truth systems that help societies test claims against shared reality. Based on current evidence, they represent the best estimate of truth by authorities. When you understand how to watch science, the law, and journalism, they allow you to gather more accurate information quickly, saving you much time and energy.
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Philosophy
Article
TST 5-Step Overview
TST Philosophy
Enjoy the journey, but ground it in truth and honor. Refine your beliefs against reality, act with integrity even when unseen, and reduce harm where possible. Life is not perfection — it is ongoing alignment between understanding, responsibility, and the shared systems we influence.