Single Idea 3214

[catalogued under 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 7. Scientific Models]

Full Idea

The models that people use to reason are more likely to resemble perception or conception of the events (from a God's-eye view) than a string of symbols directly corresponding to the linguistic form of the premises and then applying rules of inference.

Gist of Idea

The models we use in reasoning may be more like perceptions than like language

Source

P. Johnson-Laird (Mental Models [1983], p.53), quoted by Georges Rey - Contemporary Philosophy of Mind 10.1.2

Book Reference

Rey,Georges: 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' [Blackwell 1997], p.265


A Reaction

My intuition is that imagination is the single most important faculty in any conscious mind, and that even small animals have an inkling of the God's-eye view. Decisions need 'what-if' scenarios.