Philosophy:Outline of thought

From HandWiki
Short description: Overview of and topical guide to thought
A thinking chimpanzee

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to thought (thinking):

Thought (also called thinking) – mental process in which beings form psychological associations and models of the world. Thinking is manipulating information, as when we form concepts, engage in problem solving, reason and make decisions. Thought, the act of thinking, produces more thoughts. A thought may be an idea, an image, a sound or even control an emotional feeling.


Nature of thought

Thought (or thinking) can be described as all of the following:

  • An activity taking place in a:
    • brain – organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals (only a few invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, adult sea squirts and starfish do not have a brain). It is the physical structure associated with the mind.
    • computer (see § Machine thought below) – general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a set of arithmetic or logical operations automatically. Since a sequence of operations (an algorithm) can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem.
  • An activity of intelligence – intelligence is the intellectual process of which is marked by cognition, motivation, and self-awareness.[3] Through intelligence, living creatures possess the cognitive abilities to learn, form concepts, understand, apply logic, and reason, including the capacities to recognize patterns, comprehend ideas, plan, problem solve, make decisions, retaining, and use language to communicate. Intelligence enables living creatures to experience and think.
    • A type of mental process – something that individuals can do with their minds. Mental processes include perception, memory, thinking, volition, and emotion. Sometimes the term cognitive function is used instead.
  • A biological adaptation mechanism[4]
    • Neural Network explanation: Thoughts are created by the summation of neural outputs and connections of which vectors form. These vectors describe the magnitude and direction of the connections and action between neurons. The graphs of these vectors can represent a network of neurons whose connections fire in different ways over time as synapses fire. These large thought vectors in the brain cause other vectors of activity. For example: An input from the environment is received by the neural network. The network changes the magnitude and outputs of individual neurons. The altered network outputs the symbols needed to make sense of the input.

Types of thoughts

  • Philosophy:Concept – Mental representation or an abstract object
    • Abstract concept – Metaphysics concept covering the divide between two types of entities
    • Concrete concept – Metaphysics concept covering the divide between two types of entities
  • Conjecture – Proposition in mathematics that is unproven

Content of thoughts

Types of thought (thinking)

Listed below are types of thought, also known as thinking processes.

Animal thought

Human thought

Classifications of thought

Creative processes

Decision-making

Main article: Decision-making

Erroneous thinking

Emotional intelligence (emotionally based thinking)

Problem solving

Problem solving – Approaches to problem solving

  • Problem solving steps
  • Philosophy:Process of elimination – Logical method to identify an entity of interest among several ones by excluding all other entities
  • Systems thinking – Examining complex systems as a whole
  • Problem-solving strategy – steps one would use to find the problem(s) that are in the way to getting to one’s own goal. Some would refer to this as the ‘problem-solving cycle’ (Bransford & Stein, 1993). In this cycle one will recognize the problem, define the problem, develop a strategy to fix the problem, organize the knowledge of the problem cycle, figure-out the resources at the user's disposal, monitor one's progress, and evaluate the solution for accuracy.
    • Philosophy:Abstraction – Process of generalisation – solving the problem in a model of the system before applying it to the real system
    • Analogy – Cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another – using a solution that solves an analogous problem
    • Social:Brainstorming – Group creativity technique – (especially among groups of people) suggesting a large number of solutions or ideas and combining and developing them until an optimum solution is found
    • Divide and conquer – Process of understanding a complex topic or substance – breaking down a large, complex problem into smaller, solvable problems
    • Lateral thinking – Manner of solving problems – approaching solutions indirectly and creatively
    • Means-ends analysis – Problem solving technique – choosing an action at each step to move closer to the goal
    • Morphological analysis – Exploration of possible solutions – assessing the output and interactions of an entire system
    • Proof – Sufficient evidence/argument for truth – try to prove that the problem cannot be solved. The point where the proof fails will be the starting point for solving it
    • Reduction – transforming the problem into another problem for which solutions exist
    • Research – Systematic study undertaken to increase knowledge – employing existing ideas or adapting existing solutions to similar problems
    • Root cause analysis – Method of identifying the fundamental causes of faults or problems – identifying the cause of a problem
    • Thinking outside the box – Metaphor for unconventional thinking
    • Troubleshooting – Form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes –
  • Problem-solving methodology

Reasoning

  • Abstract thinking – Process of generalisation
  • Adaptive reasoning
  • Analogical reasoning – Cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another
  • Philosophy:Analytic reasoning – Ability to look at information and discern patterns
  • Case-based reasoning – Process of solving new problems based on the solutions of similar past problems
  • Critical thinking – Analysis of facts to form a judgment
  • Defeasible reasoning – Reasoning that is rationally compelling, though not deductively valid – from authority: if p then (defeasibly) q
  • Diagrammatic reasoning – reasoning by means of visual representations. Visualizing concepts and ideas with of diagrams and imagery instead of by linguistic or algebraic means
  • Philosophy:Emotional reasoning (erroneous) – a cognitive distortion in which emotion overpowers reason, to the point the subject is unwilling or unable to accept the reality of a situation because of it.
  • Heuristic – Problem-solving method that is sufficient for immediate solutions or approximationss
  • History:Historical thinking
  • Lateral thinking – Manner of solving problems
  • Logic – Study of correct reasoning / Logical reasoning
    • Abductive reasoning – Inference seeking the simplest and most likely explanation – from data and theory: p and q are correlated, and q is sufficient for p; hence, if p then (abducibly) q as cause
    • Deductive reasoning – Form of reasoning – from meaning postulate, axiom, or contingent assertion: if p then q (i.e., q or not-p)
    • Philosophy:Inductive reasoning – Method of logical reasoning – theory formation; from data, coherence, simplicity, and confirmation: (inducibly) "if p then q"; hence, if p then (deducibly-but-revisably) q
    • Philosophy:Inference – Steps in reasoning
  • Philosophy:Moral reasoning – Study in psychology that overlaps with moral philosophy – process in which an individual tries to determine the difference between what is right and what is wrong in a personal situation by using logic.[5] This is an important and often daily process that people use in an attempt to do the right thing. Every day for instance, people are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to lie in a given situation. People make this decision by reasoning the morality of the action and weighing that against its consequences.
  • Proportional reasoning – using "the concept of proportions when analyzing and solving a mathematical situation."[6]
  • Social:Strategic thinking – Cognitive activity
  • Philosophy:Verbal reasoning – understanding and reasoning using concepts framed in words
  • Philosophy:Visual reasoning – process of manipulating one's mental image of an object in order to reach a certain conclusion – for example, mentally constructing a piece of machinery to experiment with different mechanisms

Machine thought

Organizational thought

Organizational thought (thinking by organizations)

Aspects of the thinker

Aspects of the thinker which may affect (help or hamper) his or her thinking:

Properties of thought

Fields that study thought

Thought tools and thought research

History of thinking

Nootropics (cognitive enhancers and smart drugs)

Chemistry:Nootropic – Compound intended to improve cognitive function

Substances that improve mental performance:

Organizational thinking concepts

Teaching methods and skills

  • Social:Active learning – Educational technique
  • Philosophy:Classical conditioning – Aspect of learning procedure – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Philosophy:Discipline – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Philosophy:Learning theory (education) – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Social:Mentorship – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Philosophy:Operant conditioning – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Social:Problem-based learning – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Philosophy:Punishment – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".
  • Philosophy:Reinforcement – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". – Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Awards for acts of genius

Organizations

Media

Publications

Books

Periodicals

Television programs

  • Thinkabout (U.S. TV series)

Persons associated with thinking

People notable for their extraordinary ability to think

Scientists in fields that study thought

Scholars of thinking

Awareness and perception

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Learning and memory

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

See also

Miscellaneous

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Thinking

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

Lists

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary.com, "mind": "1. (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the mind. 2. Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities. 3. intellect or understanding, as distinguished from the faculties of feeling and willing; intelligence."
  2. ↑ Google definition, "mind": "The element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness." [1]
  3. ↑ Tirri, Nokelainen (January 2012). Measuring Multiple Intelligences and Moral Sensitivities in Education. Springer. ISBN 978-94-6091-758-5. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789460917585. 
  4. ↑ Danko Nikolić (2014). "Practopoiesis: Or how life fosters a mind. arXiv:1402.5332 [q-bio.NC."]. http://www.danko-nikolic.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=724. 
  5. ↑ "Definition of: Moral Reasoning". http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Moral%20Reasoning. 
  6. ↑ "Dictionary Search › proportional reasoning - Quizlet". http://quizlet.com/dictionary/proportional-reasoning/. 
  7. ↑ "History of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy". National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists. http://www.nacbt.org/historyofcbt.htm. 

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".


Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24".


Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Philosophy:Outline_of_thought&oldid=1014138"