Feynman

Feynman Technique

Apply the full Feynman learning technique to deeply understand a concept.

Instructions

Work through all four steps of the Feynman technique. Be honest about gaps—they're the point.

Output Format

Concept: [What are we trying to understand?]

Step 1: Explain It Simply

*Explain as if teaching someone with no background in this field*

Simple Explanation

[Write a plain-language explanation. Use everyday words. Avoid jargon. Aim for a bright 12-year-old to understand.]

Analogy

[Create an analogy using something familiar to illustrate the concept]

Step 2: Identify Gaps

*Where did the explanation get fuzzy, hand-wavy, or require jargon?*

Gaps Found

| Gap | What I Said | What I'm Not Sure About |

|-----|-------------|------------------------|

| 1 | [vague part] | [the underlying question] |

| 2 | [vague part] | [the underlying question] |

| 3 | [vague part] | [the underlying question] |

Jargon Used

| Term | Can I Explain It Simply? |

|------|-------------------------|

| [term] | Yes / No / Partially |

Step 3: Fill the Gaps

*Research or think through each gap*

Gap 1: [Topic]

• The question: [What wasn't clear?]
• The answer: [What I learned]
• Now I can explain it as: [Simple version]

Step 4: Refined Explanation

*Rewrite the complete explanation with gaps filled and simpler language*

Final Simple Explanation

[The improved, complete explanation in plain language]

Improved Analogy

[A refined or new analogy that better captures the concept]

Key Takeaways

• [Core insight 1]
• [Core insight 2]
• [Core insight 3]

Test Question

If someone asked me to explain this in 30 seconds, I'd say:

> [Elevator pitch version]

Guidelines

• Don't pretend to understand—gaps are valuable
• Use analogies from everyday life
• If you need jargon, define it simply
• Shorter is usually better
• The "explain to a child" bar is high—take it seriously

$ARGUMENTS