abstract thought

Other forms: abstract thoughts

Definitions of abstract thought

1. noun

   thinking that is coherent and logical
   synonyms: logical thinking, reasoning

   types:

   analysis, analytic thinking

   the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations

   argument, argumentation, line, line of reasoning, logical argument

   a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning

   conjecture

   reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence

   deduction, deductive reasoning, synthesis

   reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)

   illation, inference

   the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation

   anticipation, prediction, prevision

   the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

   ratiocination

   logical and methodical reasoning

   reasoning backward, regress

   the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence

   synthesis, synthetic thinking

   the combination of ideas into a complex whole

   line of inquiry, line of questioning

   an ordering of questions so as to develop a particular argument

   projection

   a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations

   prognostication, prophecy, vaticination

   knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source)

   adumbration, foreshadowing, prefiguration

   the act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand

   syllogism

   deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises

   theorisation, theorization

   the production or use of theories

   supposal, supposition

   the cognitive process of supposing

   analogy

   an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others

   corollary

   (logic) an inference that follows directly from the proof of another proposition

   derivation

   a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions

   deduction, entailment, implication, inference

   something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)

   extrapolation

   an inference about the future (or about some hypothetical situation) based on known facts and observations

   presumption

   (law) an inference of the truth of a fact from other facts proved or admitted or judicially noticed

   breakdown, partitioning

   an analysis into mutually exclusive categories

   cost-benefit analysis

   an analysis of the cost effectiveness of different alternatives in order to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs

   dissection

   a minute and critical analysis

   elimination, reasoning by elimination

   analysis of a problem into alternative possibilities followed by the systematic rejection of unacceptable alternatives

   reductionism

   the analysis of complex things into simpler constituents

   systems analysis

   analysis of all aspects of a project along with ways to collect information about the operation of its parts

   trend analysis

   analysis of changes over time

   casuistry

   argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading

   policy

   a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government

   type of:

   cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought, thought process

   the process of using your mind to consider something carefully