Related to asking for a simplification, ask what type of claim is being made. Is it a mathematical theorem, a physical theory, a moral position ect.
For the theorem, start by trying to understand the statement not its proof. If someone says for all Wasabi spaces, there exists a semiprime covering. (Not a real theorem) Ask for a simple example of a wasabi space, and a semiprime covering on it.
For physical theories, you can ask for a prediction. Eg if you put a single electron in a box with as little energy as possible, the probability of finding it in different locations forms a sine wave.
You can even say the sort of thing being predicted, without specifying any actual prediction. Ie “QCD predicts how quickly radioactive stuff decays” instead of “QCD predicts the halflife of uranium 238 to be 4.5 billion years”.
For moral positions, ask for one moral dilemma that the position would apply to, and what you would do. Eg for transhumanism “Your 80 and getting frail, you have an anti-ageing drug that would make you as healthy and fit as if you were 30, do you use it? (Using the drug doesn’t deprive anyone else of it) Yes”
Related to asking for a simplification, ask what type of claim is being made. Is it a mathematical theorem, a physical theory, a moral position ect.
For the theorem, start by trying to understand the statement not its proof. If someone says for all Wasabi spaces, there exists a semiprime covering. (Not a real theorem) Ask for a simple example of a wasabi space, and a semiprime covering on it.
For physical theories, you can ask for a prediction. Eg if you put a single electron in a box with as little energy as possible, the probability of finding it in different locations forms a sine wave.
You can even say the sort of thing being predicted, without specifying any actual prediction. Ie “QCD predicts how quickly radioactive stuff decays” instead of “QCD predicts the halflife of uranium 238 to be 4.5 billion years”.
For moral positions, ask for one moral dilemma that the position would apply to, and what you would do. Eg for transhumanism “Your 80 and getting frail, you have an anti-ageing drug that would make you as healthy and fit as if you were 30, do you use it? (Using the drug doesn’t deprive anyone else of it) Yes”