The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to thought (thinking):
Thought (also called thinking) – the 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 thoughts. A thought may be an idea, an image, a sound or even an emotional feeling that arises from the brain.
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 humans, but which also may apply to other life forms. 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 – intellectual capacity, which is characterized by perception, consciousness, self-awareness, and volition. Through their intelligence, humans 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 humans 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.
Thought as a biological adaptation mechanism
Listed below are types of thought, also known as thinking processes.
Bloom's taxonomy
Dual process theory
Fluid and crystallized intelligence
Higher-order thinking
Theory of multiple intelligences
Three-stratum theory
Williams' taxonomy
Organizational thought (thinking by organizations)
Management information system
Organizational communication
Organizational planning
Strategic planning
Strategic thinking
Systems thinking
Aspects of the thinker which may affect (help or hamper) his or her thinking:
Cognitive model
Design tool
Diagram
Argument map
Concept map
Mind map
DSRP
Intelligence amplification
Language
Meditation
Six Thinking Hats
Synectics
History of artificial intelligence
History of cognitive science
History of creativity
History of ideas
History of logic
History of psychometrics
Nootropics (cognitive enhancers and smart drugs)
Substances that improve mental performance:
Nobel Prize
Pulitzer Prize
MacArthur Fellowship
Associations pertaining to thought
Association for Automated Reasoning
Association for Informal Logic and Critical Thinking
International Joint Conference on Automated Reasoning
High IQ societies
Mega Society
Mensa
Mind Sports Organisations
World Mind Sports Games
Think tanks
Handbook of Automated Reasoning
Journal of Automated Reasoning
Journal of Formalized Reasoning
Positive Thinking Magazine
Thinkabout (U.S. TV series)
Geniuses
List of MacArthur Fellows
List of Nobel laureates (see also Nobel Prize)
Polymaths
List of cognitive scientists
Aaron T. Beck
Edward de Bono
David D. Burns – author of Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy and The Feeling Good Handbook. Burns popularized Aaron T. Beck's cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when his book became a best seller during the 1980s.
Tony Buzan
Noam Chomsky
Albert Ellis
Howard Gardner
Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Douglas Hofstadter
Ray Kurzweil
Marvin Minsky
Steven Pinker
Baruch Spinoza
Robert Sternberg
Cognition
Knowledge
Multiple intelligences
Strategy
Structure
System
