See also argumentation; ideas; learning; logic; opinion; philosophy; questioning; understanding.
analysis
the process of separating a whole into its parts to discover their function, relationship, etc. See also logic; psychology.
asemia
loss or absence of the capacity to express thoughts or ideas by written, spoken, or gesticulated means.
cogitation
1. the act of meditation or contemplation.
2. the faculty of thinking.
3. a thought; a design or plan. —cogitator, n. —cogitative, adj.
dianoetic
relating to the operation of the mind through logical rather than intuitive thought processes; intellectual activity.
dianoia
the capacity for, process of, or result of discursive thinking. —dianoetic, adj.
divagation
the act of digressing; wandering off the subject.
eduction
the process of deducing or inferring. —eductive, adj.
escapism
1. the state of having wandering and imaginative thoughts in order to escape from reality. —escapist, n., adj.
2. the practice of engaging in activities that enable one to avoid having to deal with reality, as the persistent attendance at science-fiction films, reading of fantasy literature, etc.
factualism
1. excessive concern for facts.
2. a theory or belief relying heavily on fact. —factualist, n. —factualistic, adj.
free association
Psychoanalysis. the unhampered and uncensored expression of ideas, impressions, etc., passing through the mind of the patiënt, used to permit access to the processes of the unconscious.
hyponoia, hyponea
a state of dulled mental activity or decrease in the function of thought. Also called hypopsychosis.
hypopsychosis
hyponoia.
ideation
the process of forming ideas. —ideational, adj.
illation
the process of inferring or deducing; also, that which is inferred or deduced. —illative, adj.
imponderabilia
things or matters beyond measure or comprehension.
indagation
the process of searching or inquiring; an investigation, especially of an intellectual nature. —indagator, n. —indagative, adj.
insularism
the state of being narrow-minded.
intellection
1. the exercise or use of the intellect.
2. a particular act or process of the intellect.
noesis
1. understanding solely through the intellect.
2. thinking. —noetic, adj.
nomology
the science of the laws of the mind. —nomologist, n. —nomological, adj.
obfuscation
the process of darkening or obscuring so as to hinder ready analysis.
Pelmanism
a system of mental development exercises.
perpension
Obsolete, consideration; careful thought over a matter.
philosphy
1. the rational inquiry into the principles and truths of being, nature, knowledge, conduct, etc.
2. an individual set or system of principles and beliefs. —philosopher, n. —philosophic, philosophical, adj.
phronemomania
a mania for thinking.
phronemophobia
an abnormal fear of thinking.
quandary
a state of doubt or uncertainty, especially with regard to the choice of alternatives; a dilemma.
ratiocination
the process of logical reasoning or rational thought. —ratiocinative, adj.
reification
the conversion of an abstract concept into something concrete; a viewing of the abstract as concrete.
rumination
the act of pondering or meditating. —ruminator, n. —ruminative, adj.
speculation
1. the contemplation or consideration of some subject.
2. an instance of such activity.
3. a conclusion or opinion reached by such activity.
4. a conjecture or surmise; a guess. —speculator, n. —speculative, adj.
speculativism
the excessive use of speculation.
synthesis
the process of deductive reasoning, as from cause to effect, from the simple elements to the complex whole, etc. See also joining. —synthesist, n. —synthetic, synthetical, adj.
syntheticism
the principles or practice of synthesis or synthetic methods or techniques.
tachyphrenia
abnormally rapid mental activity.
witcraft
Rare. the art of reasoning; logic.
