Portfolio

I ask the questions most people don’t think to ask.

Structured Thinking in Action

Lucid Inquiry provides rigorous analysis, critical thinking, interdisciplinary research, and AI-augmented reasoning for complex problems.

Below are selected examples of live inquiry work, demonstrating the structured thinking process clients rely on to uncover hidden assumptions, test claims, and drive trusted decisions.

To clarify the scope and nature of this work.

What this work is:

  • Structured reasoning applied to complex claims and narratives

  • Transparent identification of assumptions and causal logic

  • Clear articulation of evidence strength and limitations

  • Human-guided thinking, augmented by advanced tools

  • Focused on clarity of thought to support better decisions

What this work is not:

  • Not AI-generated content without oversight

  • Not prompt engineering packaged as reasoning

  • Not thought leadership based on hype or shallow trends

Clarity is not achieved by adding more — but by questioning what is already assumed.

Life Beyond Earth: A Recursive Dialogue on Intelligence, Matter, and Meaning

(AI Interaction Report #1)

This extended-format dialogue investigates the possibility of life beyond Earth—not through soundbites or summaries, but via recursive inquiry with an AI. I deconstruct definitions of life, intelligence, and matter, questioning assumptions baked into human science. The result is a new form of exploration: AI-Augmented Critical Thinking. This piece invites readers who value logic, systems thinking, and paradigm-level analysis.

Can an Optimal Solution Always Be Found in Business Decision-Making?

(AI Interaction Report #2)

In this AI-augmented inquiry, I investigate whether businesses can always reach an optimal solution when faced with complex decisions. Rather than assume a static model, I construct and test a dynamic simulation — examining how constraints, tradeoffs, unknown variables, and strategic ambiguity impact outcomes. This piece demonstrates structured thinking, systems modeling, and recursive questioning under uncertainty.

The Lead Masks Case: A Rational Inquiry into One of Brazil’s Greatest Unsolved Mysteries

(AI Interaction Report #3)

In this 93-page investigative dialogue, I analyze the infamous 1966 Lead Masks Case from a cold-start position—no prior knowledge, no preloaded theories. Using recursive questioning, forensic logic, and AI-assisted analysis, I examine evidence, eliminate speculation, and reconstruct the most plausible explanation behind the deaths of two men found on a hillside wearing lead masks. This piece demonstrates real-time critical thinking, hypothesis testing, and abductive reasoning under ambiguous conditions. It serves as a signature model of how I approach complexity: methodically, creatively, and without bias.

Structured Argument Analysis — Health Claim

(Reasoned Inquiry Report #1)

This portfolio example demonstrates a live deconstruction of a common health-related marketing claim. It showcases Lucid Inquiry’s process for surfacing hidden assumptions, evaluating causal claims, and applying rigorous standards of evidence — a critical skill in helping clients avoid costly reasoning errors.

Are Compostable Plastics Actually Better for the Environment?

(Reasoned Inquiry Report #2)

This report applies structured reasoning and assumption analysis to the popular claim that compostable plastics are an environmentally superior alternative to conventional plastics. It demonstrates the reasoning process I bring to cross-domain claims — especially those where marketing narratives may exceed the strength of available evidence.