Weaponization of Critical Thinking

The practice of using the tools and language of critical thinking—skepticism, questioning, demand for evidence—not to genuinely evaluate claims but to undermine, dismiss, or attack positions one dislikes. The weaponizer of critical thinking doesn't apply the same standards to their own beliefs; they simply wield "critical thinking" as a cudgel against others, demanding impossible levels of proof, rejecting all evidence as insufficient, and declaring themselves the only rational person in the conversation. It's the rhetorical equivalent of a child covering their ears and shouting "I'm being critical!" The weaponization of critical thinking is especially common in online debates, where "just asking questions" becomes a way to spread doubt without making claims, and "being skeptical" becomes a way to dismiss expertise without engaging it.

Weaponization of Critical Thinking Example: "He weaponized critical thinking in every discussion, demanding sources, then rejecting them, asking for evidence, then dismissing it, claiming to be skeptical while believing obvious nonsense. He wasn't thinking critically; he was using the language of critical thinking to avoid ever being wrong. His opponents gave up, exhausted. The weapon had done its job."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 16, 2026