Abstract Thinking: Definition, History, and Further Readings
Abstract thinking is the ability to think creatively and conceptually, rather than literally and concretely. It is a higher level of thinking that allows people to understand and analyze abstract concepts and ideas. This ability is a valuable asset in many fields such as mathematics, philosophy, and social sciences. The following article will discuss the definition, history, and further readings on abstract thinking.
Definition
Abstract thinking is the ability to think beyond the literal meaning of language or symbols. It involves the ability to comprehend and interpret abstract concepts, such as ideas, theories, and abstractions. It is a mental process that requires the individual to manipulate symbols, symbols-like words, and symbols-like images, which can represent ideas or objects. This type of thinking involves the ability to think in new ways and to create new ideas or solutions.
History
Abstract thinking has been studied by philosophers since antiquity. Plato and Aristotle are credited with defining abstract thinking as the ability to think beyond what is directly observable. In the 17th century, René Descartes proposed that abstract thinking is the foundation of all knowledge. His theory of “cogito ergo sum,” or “I think, therefore I am,” argued that the ability to think abstractly is what makes us human.
In the 19th century, Immanuel Kant argued for a synthesis of abstract thinking and empirical knowledge. This synthesis, known as transcendentalism, proposed that abstract thinking is the primary source of knowledge, while empirical knowledge is the secondary source. The 20th century saw the emergence of modern theories of abstract thinking, which argued that abstract thinking is a fundamental part of the human experience.
Further Readings
Dewey, J. (1910). How We Think: A Restatement of the Relation of Reflective Thinking to the Educative Process. Boston: D.C. Heath & Co.
Fodor, J. (1983). The Modularity of Mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
Kant, I. (1781). Critique of Pure Reason. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Kuhn, T. S. (1996). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lehrer, K. (1989). Rational Consensus in Science and Society: A Philosophical and Mathematical Study. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Plato (c. 360 BCE). The Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett.
Ryle, G. (1949). The Concept of Mind. London: Hutchinson.
Schermerhorn, J. R. (1992). Organizational Behavior. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Searle, J. R. (1983). Intentionality: An Essay in the Philosophy of Mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.