#thinking__thought__cerebration__intellection__mentation the process of thinking (especially thinking carefully); "thinking always made him frown"; "she paused for thought"
supertype: higher_cognitive_process cognitive processes that presuppose the availability of knowledge and put it to use
equal: think (pm)
subtype: free_association a thought process in which ideas (words or images) suggest other ideas in a sequence
subtype: mental_synthesis__construction the creation of a construct; the process of combining ideas into a congruous object of thought
subtype: reasoning__logical_thinking__logicalthinking__abstract_thought thinking that is coherent and logical
subtype: analytic_thinking__analysis the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts for study
subtype: partitioning__breakdown an analysis into mutually exclusive categories
subtype: resolving__resolution analysis into clear-cut components
subtype: factorization__factorisation__factoring (mathematics) the resolution of an integer or polynomial into factors such that when multiplied together they give the integer or polynomial
subtype: diagonalization__diagonalisation (matrix algebra) changing a square matrix to diagonal form (with all non-zero elements on the principal diagonal); "the diagonalization of a normal matrix by a unitary transformation"
subtype: cost-benefit_analysis an analysis of the cost effectiveness of different alternatives in order to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs
subtype: dissection.analytic_thinking a minute and critical analysis
subtype: reasoning_by_elimination__elimination analysis of a problem into alternative possibilities followed by the systematic elimination of unacceptable alternatives
subtype: reductionism the analysis of complex things into simpler constituents
subtype: systems_analysis analysis of all aspects of a project along with ways to collect information about the operation of its parts
subtype: argumentation__logical_argument__logicalargument__line_of_reasoning__line methodical reasoning; "I can't follow your line of reasoning"
subtype: line_of_inquiry__line_of_questioning__lineofquestioning an ordering of questions so as to develop a particular argument
subtype: casuistry.argumentation argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
subtype: policy a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government; "they debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation"
subtype: plank an endorsed policy in the platform of a political party
subtype: economic_policy a government policy for maintaining economic growth and tax revenues
subtype: fiscal_policy a government policy for dealing with the budget (especially with taxation and borrowing)
subtype: New_Deal the economic policy of F. D. Roosevelt
subtype: control.economic_policy the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.; "they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls"
subtype: price_control__pricecontrol restriction on maximum prices that is established and maintained by the government (as during periods of war or inflation)
subtype: ceiling.control__cap an upper limit on what is allowed: "they established a cap for prices"
subtype: floor.control__base a lower limit: "the government established a wage floor"
subtype: price_floor floor below which prices are not allowed to fall; "the government used price supports to maintain the price floor"
subtype: wage_floor floor below which wages are not allowed to fall
subtype: perestroika an economic policy adopted in the former Soviet Union; intended to increase automation and labor efficiency but it led eventually to the end of central planning in the Russian economy
subtype: protectionism the policy of imposing duties or quotas on imports in order to protect home industries from overseas competition
subtype: trade_barrier__tradebarrier__import_barrier any regulation or policy that restricts international trade
subtype: quota.trade_barrier a limitation on imports; "the quota for Japanese imports was negotiated"
subtype: trade_embargo__tradeembargo__embargo__trade_stoppage__tradestoppage a government order imposing a trade barrier
subtype: social_policy a policy of for dealing with social issues
subtype: apartheid the former official policy of racial segregation in South Africa
subtype: glasnost a policy of the Soviet government allowing freer discussion of social problems
subtype: social_action a policy of socioeconomic reform
subtype: affirmative_action__affirmativeaction a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities; "affirmative action has been extremely controversial and was challenged in 1978 in the Bakke decision"
subtype: nativism.social_policy the policy of perpetuating native cultures (in opposition to acculturation)
subtype: party_line.policy__partyline the policy of a political group; "He won in a vote along party lines"
subtype: foreign_policy__foreignpolicy a policy governing international relations
subtype: brinkmanship the policy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety)
subtype: imperialism.foreign_policy a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries
subtype: manifest_destiny a policy of imperialism rationalized as inevitable (as if granted by God)
subtype: intervention.foreign_policy__interference a policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries
subtype: nonintervention__noninterference a foreign policy of staying out of other countries' disputes
subtype: nonaggression a policy of not initiating hostilities; "they signed a nonaggression pact"
subtype: isolationism a policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations
subtype: Monroe_doctrine an American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western hemisphere from outside powers
subtype: Truman_doctrine President Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology
subtype: neutralism a policy of neutrality or nonalignment in international affairs
subtype: trade_policy__tradepolicy__nationaltradingpolicy a government's policy controlling foreign trade
subtype: open-door_policy__open_door the policy of granting equal trade opportunities to all countries
subtype: Zionism a policy for establishing and developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine
subtype: conjecture reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence
subtype: theorization__theorisation the production or use of theories
subtype: ideology imaginary or visionary theorization
subtype: generalisation__abstraction the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances
subtype: supposition the cognitive process of supposing
subtype: presupposition the act of presupposing; a supposition made prior to having knowledge (as for the purpose of argument)
subtype: deductive_reasoning__deductivereasoning__deduction__synthesis__synthesi reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)
subtype: syllogism deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises
subtype: inference__illation the reasoning involved in making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
subtype: analogy.inference an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others
subtype: corollary (logic) an inference that follows directly from the proof of another proposition
subtype: derivation.inference a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions
subtype: entailment__deduction__implication something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied); "his resignation had political implications"
subtype: presumption.inference (law) an inference of the truth of a fact from other facts proved or admitted or judicially noticed
subtype: prediction__anticipation__prevision the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
subtype: projection.prediction a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations
subtype: prognostication__vaticination knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source)
subtype: crystal_gazing__crystalgazing staring into a crystal ball to arouse visions of future or distant events
subtype: prevision a prophetic vision (as in a dream)
subtype: divination__foretelling__fortune_telling__fortunetelling prophecy (or the pretense of prophecy) by supernatural means
subtype: dowse__dowsing__rhabdomancy searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod
subtype: geomancy divination by means of signs connected with the earth (as points taken at random or the arrangement of particles thrown down at random or from the configuration of a region and its relation to another)
subtype: hydromancy divination by water (as by patterns seen in the ebb and flow of the tides)
subtype: lithomancy divination by means of stones or stone talismans
subtype: necromancy conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying
subtype: onomancy divination by the letters of a name
subtype: palmistry__palmreading__chirology telling fortunes by lines on the palm of the hand
subtype: pyromancy divination by fire or flames
subtype: prefiguration__foreshadowing__adumbration providing vague advance indications
subtype: ratiocination logical and methodical reasoning
subtype: reasoning_backward__reasoningbackward__regress__regres the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence
subtype: synthesis__synthesi__synthetic_thinking__syntheticthinking the combination of ideas into a complex whole
subtype: line_of_thought a particular way of thinking that is characteristic of some individual or group
subtype: train_of_thought__thread the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together; "I couldn't follow his train of thought"; "he lost the thread of his argument"
subtype: cogitation__study attentive scrutiny and thought; "after much cogitation he rejected the offer"
subtype: lucubration laborious cogitation
subtype: mysticism obscure or irrational thought
subtype: ideation the process of forming and relating ideas
subtype: consideration the process of giving careful thought to something
subtype: weighing__deliberation__advisement careful consideration; "a little deliberation would have deterred them"
subtype: think (informal) an instance of deliberate thinking: "I need to give it a good think"
subtype: exploration.consideration a systematic consideration; "he called for a careful exploration of the consequences"
subtype: meditation__contemplation__reflection__reflexion__rumination__musing__thoughtfulness a calm lengthy intent consideration
subtype: introspection__self-contemplation__self-examination the contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct
subtype: soul-searching__self-analysis a penetrating examination of your own beliefs and motives
subtype: examen.introspection__examination examination of conscience (as done daily by Jesuits)
subtype: omphaloskepsis contemplation of one's navel
subtype: retrospect contemplation of things past; "in retrospect"
subtype: excogitation thinking something out with care in order to achieve complete understanding of it
subtype: explanation thought that makes something comprehensible
subtype: interpreting__interpretation__rendition__rendering an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious; "the edict was subject to many interpretations"; "he annoyed us with his interpreting of parables"
subtype: broad_interpretation__broadinterpretation__judicial_activism an interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
subtype: rationalization.explanation__rationalisation the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason
subtype: provision__planning__preparation the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening; "his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties"
subtype: agreement.provision__arrangement the thing arranged or agreed to
subtype: collusion secret agreement
subtype: prearrangement an arrangement in advance
subtype: applecart.provision the planning that is disrupted when someone "upsets the applecart"
subtype: mens_rea__malice_aforethought (law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal)
subtype: calculation__deliberation planning something carefully and intentionally; "it was the deliberation of his act that was insulting"
subtype: premeditation planning or plotting in advance of acting
subtype: problem_solving the thought processes involved in solving a problem
subtype: enquiry__inquiry__research a search for knowledge; "their pottery deserves more research than it has received"
subtype: nature_study the study of animals and plants in the natural world (usually at an elementary level)
subtype: experimentation__experiment the testing of an idea; "it was an experiment in living"; "not all experimentation is done in laboratories"
subtype: pilot_experiment__pilotexperiment a preliminary experiment whose outcome can lead to a more extensive experiment
subtype: trial_run__trialrun__trial__test__tryout trying something to find out about it; "a sample for ten days free trial"; "a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain"
subtype: field_trial__fieldtrial a test to display the performance of some new product
subtype: alpha_test__alphatest a first test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by the developer
subtype: beta_test a second test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by an outside organization
subtype: road_test a test to insure that a vehicle is roadworthy
subtype: test_drive test of the roadworthiness of a vehicle one is considering buying
subtype: trial_balloon__trialballoon a test of public opinion
subtype: empirical_research__empiricalresearch an empirical search for knowledge
subtype: investigation__probe an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities; "there was a congressional probe into the scandal"
subtype: public_opinion_poll__poll__opinion_poll__opinionpoll__canvass an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
subtype: straw_vote__strawvote__straw_poll__strawpoll an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue
subtype: heraldry.enquiry the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies
subtype: figuring__calculation__computation__reckoning problem solving that involves numbers or quantities
subtype: extrapolation (mathematics) calculation of the value of a function outside the range of known values
subtype: interpolation (mathematics) calculation of the value of a function between the values already known
subtype: conversion.figuring a change in the units or form of an expression: "conversion from Fahrenheit to Centigrade
subtype: data_conversion__dataconversion conversion from one way of encoding data to another way
subtype: digitization__digitisation conversion of analog information into digital information
subtype: estimation__estimate__approximation__idea an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"
subtype: guesswork__guess__gues__shot__dead_reckoning an estimate based on little or no information
subtype: guesstimate__guestimate an estimate that combines reasoning with guessing
subtype: overrating__overestimate__overestimation__overreckoning a calculation that results in an estimate that is too high
subtype: underestimate__underestimation__underrating__underreckoning a calculation that results in an estimate that is too low
subtype: derived_function__derivedfunction__derivative__differential_coefficient__differential__first_derivative__firstderivative the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
subtype: curvature the rate of change (at a point) of the angle between a curve and a tangent to the curve
subtype: integral the result of a mathematical integration; F(x) is the integral of f(x) if dF/dx = f(x)
subtype: indefinite_integral the set of functions F(x) + C, where C is any real number, such that F(x) is the integral of f(x)
subtype: definite_integral the integral of a function over a definite interval
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