Pressure-test a plan, finding, or design — steelman it, attack correctness/necessity/cost, and deliver a REFUTED / HOLDS / HOLDS-WITH-CUTS verdict — applying the repo's evolving `skeptic` role (.claude/roles/skeptic.md). Use when the user says "/roles:as skeptic", "pressure-test this", "poke holes in this plan", or "is this actually sound".
Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of Skeptic?
Add the live security badge to your README. It updates with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/alexmond-skeptic)
---
name: skeptic
description: Pressure-test a plan, finding, or design — steelman it, attack correctness/necessity/cost, and deliver a REFUTED / HOLDS / HOLDS-WITH-CUTS verdict — applying the repo's evolving `skeptic` role (.claude/roles/skeptic.md). Use when the user says "/roles:as skeptic", "pressure-test this", "poke holes in this plan", or "is this actually sound".
argument-hint: "[plan / finding / design to pressure-test]"
disable-model-invocation: true
---
**Codex:** Read [the client path](references/clients.md) before applying this workflow.
# Skeptic pressure-test
Target: $ARGUMENTS
1. **Load the role.** If `.claude/roles/skeptic.md` exists, read it — it is the canonical, evolving copy. If not, read [role.md](role.md) (the seed shipped with this skill), copy it verbatim to `.claude/roles/skeptic.md`, then proceed.
2. **Apply it.** Adopt the Charter and Body; honor every entry under `## Learnings (core)` and `## Learnings (solo)`.
3. **Work the target** following the Body's method and deliverables.
4. **Capture a learning.** If this run surfaced a durable, reusable lesson (a fix that took more than one cycle, a stack- or repo-specific gotcha, a stated user preference), append one line under `## Learnings (solo)` in `.claude/roles/skeptic.md`: `- YYYY-MM-DD — <one sentence>`. Don't log routine one-pass outcomes.
