abstract thought
Thinking without objects
Abstract thought is mental activity dealing with concepts, ideas, and possibilities rather than concrete objects or immediate experiences.
It includes reasoning about things you can't see or touch—justice, infinity, hypothetical situations.
Abstract thought lets you generalize from particulars, recognize patterns, and imagine what doesn't yet exist: The ability for abstract thought distinguishes humans from most animals.
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- deductionConclusion from premises
phenomenology · introspection · meta-cognition · higher order · metaphysics · dualism · ontology · logic · mental gymnastics · big picture · semiotics · platonic forms · a priori · existentialism · imagination · mind's eye · idealism · symbolism
- intellectintelligence, intellect, brainpower, mind, cognition
- thinking skillslogic, logical thinking, logical reasoning, reasoning, reason
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- animal cognitionlearning, memory, problem solving, reasoning, attention
- inner experienceinner life, mind's eye, inner world, awareness, intuition
- right braincreativity, imagination, intuition, art, music
abstract thoughtsensory experience
Awareness through bodily senses
empirical observation · literal thinking · direct observation