Pro-Con List

The simplest decision framework: explicitly listing arguments for and against a course of action. Ben Franklin's 'moral algebra' is the classic version: list pros and cons, weigh them, and see which side dominates. The power isn't in the list itself but in the process—forcing explicit articulation of trade-offs that intuitive decision-making handles implicitly (and often poorly). Writing arguments down reveals gaps in reasoning, surfacing considerations that feeling-based decisions would miss.

When to use it

When facing any decision with meaningful trade-offs; when you're leaning strongly toward an option and need a check on confirmation bias; when communicating your reasoning to others; when a decision feels overwhelming and needs to be broken into components.

How it can help

For any significant decision, spend 15 minutes writing a pro-con list before deciding. The discipline is completeness: most people list the first 3-4 items per side and stop, missing crucial considerations. Push past the obvious to list at least 7 items per side. Then weight them—not all pros and cons are equal. A single 'con' (like 'this could bankrupt us') can outweigh ten pros. The exercise's value is in the thinking, not the arithmetic.