A thinking chimpanzee

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

Thought is the object of a mental process called thinking, 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. mind – abstract entity with the cognitive faculties of consciousness, perception, thinking, judgement, and memory. Having a mind is a characteristic of living creatures. Activities taking place in a mind are called mental processes or cognitive functions. 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. 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 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

  • Concept – Fundamental unit of cognition Abstract concept – Metaphysics concept covering the divide between two types of entities Concrete concept – Metaphysics concept covering the divide between two types of entities
  • Idea – Mental image or concept
  • Mental image – Representation in the mind of objects, activities or events, whether they existed or not
  • Percept / Perception

2. Propositions and Beliefs

  • Logical assertion – Statement in a metalanguagePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Proposition – Bearer of truth values
  • Premise – Statement supporting an argument
  • Belief – Subjective attitude that something is true

3. Reasoning and Argumentation

  • Argument – Attempt to persuade or to determine the truth of a conclusion Logical argument – Attempt to persuade or to determine the truth of a conclusionPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Syllogism – Type of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning

4. Inquiry and Speculation

  • Conjecture – Proposition in mathematics that is unproven
  • Hypothesis – Proposed explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem
  • Thought experiment – Hypothetical situation

5. Explanation and Synthesis

  • Explanation – Set of statements constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies causes
  • Theory – Supposition or system of ideas intended to explain something
  • Conceptual model – Theoretical framework
  • Mental model – Mental representation of the external world
  • Schema – Pattern of thought or behavior

6. Definition

  • Definition – Statement that attaches a meaning to a term

7. Decision Making

Content of thoughts

Types of thought (thinking)

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

Animal thought

Human thought

Human thought – Cognitive process independent of the sensesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Classifications of thought

Creative processes

Decision-making

  • Choice – Deciding between multiple options
  • Cybernetics – Transdisciplinary field concerned with regulatory and purposive systems
  • Decision theory – Branch of applied probability theory
  • Executive functions – Cognitive processes necessary for control of behavior
  • Goals and goal setting – Idea of the future or result that a person or group wants to achievePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Judgement – Evaluation of circumstances to make a decision
  • Planning – Regarding the activities required to achieve a desired goal
  • Rational choice theory – Class of models in the behavioral sciencesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Speech act – Utterance that serves a performative function
  • Value (personal and cultural) – Personal value, basis for ethical actionPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Value judgment – Philosophical and ethical concept

Erroneous thinking

Emotional intelligence (emotionally based thinking)

Emotional intelligence – Capability to understand one's emotions

Problem solving

Problem solving – Process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles

  • Problem solving steps Problem finding – Problem discovery Problem shaping
  • Process of elimination – Method of identifying an entity of interest
  • Systems thinking – Examining complex systems as a whole Critical systems thinking – Systems thinking multimethodology
  • 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. Abstraction – Process of generalization – solving the problem in a model of the system before applying it to the real system Analogy – Form of figurative language – using a solution that solves an analogous problem 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 Hypothesis testing – Method of statistical inferencePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – assuming a possible explanation to the problem and trying to prove (or, in some contexts, disprove) the assumption Lateral thinking – Manner of solving problems – approaching solutions indirectly and creatively Oblique Strategies – Set of cards intended to promote creativity Parallel thinking – Maltese physician (1933–2021)Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Provocative operation – Signals provocationPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Six Thinking Hats – 1985 book by Maltese Dr. Edward de Bono Means-ends analysis – Problem solving techniquePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – 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 – Transformation of one computational problem to another – 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 problemsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – identifying the cause of a problem Thinking outside the box – Metaphor for unconventional thinking Trial-and-error – Method of problem-solvingPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – testing possible solutions until the right one is found Troubleshooting – Form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes –
  • Problem-solving methodology 5 Whys – Iterative interrogative techniquePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Decision cycle – Sequence of steps for decision-making Eight Disciplines Problem Solving – Eight disciplines of team-oriented problem solving methodPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets GROW model – Method for goal setting and problem solving How to Solve It – Book by George Pólya Learning cycle – How people learn from experience OODA loop – Observe–orient–decide–act cycle (observe, orient, decide, and act) PDCA – Iterative design and management method (plan–do–check–act) Problem structuring methods – Techniques used to model a situation to be changed RPR Problem Diagnosis (rapid problem resolution) TRIZ – Problem-solving tools (in Russian: Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch, "theory of solving inventor's problems") Vertical thinking – Thinking technique that involves an analytical approach to problem solving

Reasoning

Reasoning – Capacity for consciously making sense of thingsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

  • Abstract thinking – Process of generalization
  • Adaptive reasoning – Problem solving strategy
  • Analogical reasoning – Form of figurative language
  • 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 – reasoning by means of visual representations. Visualizing concepts and ideas with of diagrams and imagery instead of by linguistic or algebraic means
  • Emotional reasoning – Cognitive process (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.
  • Fallacious reasoning – Argument that uses faulty reasoningPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets (erroneous) – logical errors
  • Heuristic – Problem-solving methods
  • Historical thinking
  • Intuitive reasoning – Ability to acquire knowledge without conscious reasoningPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • 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) 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 Inference – Steps in reasoning
  • 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. 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.
  • Probabilistic reasoning – Applications of logic under uncertaintyPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – from combinatorics and indifference: if p then (probably) q
  • Proportional reasoning – Reasoning about comparative relationships – using "the concept of proportions when analyzing and solving a mathematical situation."
  • Rational thinking – Quality of being agreeable to reasonPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Semiosis – Mode of communication
  • Statistical reasoning – Study of collection and analysis of dataPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets – from data and presumption: the frequency of qs among ps is high (or inference from a model fit to data); hence, (in the right context) if p then (probably) q
  • Strategic thinking – Cognitive activity
  • Synthetic reasoning – Semantic distinction in philosophyPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Verbal reasoning – Understanding and reasoning using concepts framed in words – understanding and reasoning using concepts framed in words
  • 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:

  • Ability – Ability to influence the behaviour of others
  • Aptitude – Ability; competence to do a certain kind of work at a certain level
  • Attitude – Concept in psychology and communication studies
  • Behavior – Actions by entities within a system
  • Cognitive style – Concept in cognitive psychology
  • Common sense – Sound practical judgement in everyday matters
  • Experience – Conscious event, perception or practical knowledge
  • Instinct – Behaviour due to innate biological factors
  • Intelligence – Ability to perceive, infer, retain or apply information
  • Metacognition – Self-awareness about thinking, higher-order thinking skills
  • Mental image – Representation in the mind of objects, activities or events, whether they existed or not
  • Mindset – Term in decision theory and general systems theory
  • Preference – To like one thing more than another
  • Rationality – Quality of being agreeable to reason
  • Skill – Ability to carry out a task
  • Wisdom – Combination of wit and virtue Sapience – Combination of wit and virtuePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Properties of thought

  • Accuracy and precision – Measures of observational error
  • Cogency
  • Dogma – Beliefs accepted by members of a group without question
  • Effectiveness – Capability of producing the desired result
  • Efficacy – Ability to finish a task satisfactorily
  • Efficiency – Degree to which a process minimizes waste of resources
  • Freethought – Position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism
  • Frugality – Being frugal in the consumption of consumable resources
  • Meaning – Study of meaning in languagePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Prudence – Ability of a person to regulate themselves with the use of reason
  • Rights – Legal, social, or ethical principles
  • Skepticism – Doubtful attitude toward knowledge claims
  • Soundness – Term in logic and deductive reasoning
  • Validity – Argument whose conclusion must be true if its premises are
  • Value theory – Systematic study of values
  • Wrongdoing – Act that is illegal or immoral

Fields that study thought

Thought tools and thought research

  • Cognitive model – Model of cognition's operation
  • Design tool – Objects, media, or computer programs, which can be used to design
  • Diagram – Symbolic representation of information using visualization techniques Argument map – Visual representation of the structure of an argument Concept map – Diagram showing relationships among concepts Mind map – Diagram to visually organize information
  • DSRP – Theory and method of thinking
  • Intelligence amplification – Use of information technology to augment human intelligence
  • Language – Structured system of communication
  • Meditation – Techniques to train attention and awareness
  • Six Thinking Hats – 1985 book by Maltese Dr. Edward de Bono
  • Synectics – Thought process for making the strange familiar and the familiar strange

History of thinking

History of reasoning – Capacity for consciously making sense of thingsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Nootropics (cognitive enhancers and smart drugs)

Nootropic – Compound intended to improve cognitive function

Substances that improve mental performance:

Organizational thinking concepts

Teaching methods and skills

Awards related to thinking

Awards for acts of genius

Organizations

Media

Publications

Books

Periodicals

Television programs

Persons associated with thinking

People notable for their extraordinary ability to think

Scientists in fields that study thought

Scholars of thinking

Related concepts

Awareness and perception

Learning and memory

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Miscellaneous

See also

Miscellaneous

Thinking

Lists

External links