Rational thinking

The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.^[1]

Rational thinking refers to one's ability to process information/data and engage in decision making and problem solving based on logic, facts, and evidence rather than on illogical thinking, irrational thinking, delusional thinking, cognitive biases and personal biases.

Using rationality and individual is able to make reasonable conclusions based on sufficient data in order to come to an inference to the best explanation or explanations. This involves analyzing situations carefully and making sound judgments based on what is known to be true.

Aristotle is often called the father of logic in the West.

See also: Evidence-based thinking and Critical thinking and Scientific method and Decision making and Problem solving and Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity and Change management and Emotional intelligence and Self-awareness and Self-regulation and Mindfulness and Metacognition

To think more rationally, use the following practices:

1. Use logical reasoning, evidence-based thinking, analytical thinking, critical thinking, probabilistic thinking, structural thinking and systems thinking.

2. Use the reasonable person standard used in the field law when engaged in decision making. "This is a common law idea, which asks the question of how a reasonable person would have behaved in circumstances similar to those with which the defendant was presented at the time of the alleged negligence."^[2]

3. Analyze problems/situations logically when engaged in problem solving. See: Problem solving and Creative problem solving

4. Questioning your assumptions. See also: Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity

5. Being observant and open to engaging in experimentation in order to optimize results. See also: Observation skills and Scientific method and Deliberate practice and Comfort zone and Peak performance

6. Being open to changing your mind based on new evidence. See: Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity and Change management

7. Seeking out information from diverse perspectives. See also: Openness and Creativity and Innovation

8. Focus on actively identifying and managing your emotions. Avoiding impulsive judgments based solely on feelings. See: Emotional intelligence and Self-awareness and Self-regulation and Metacognition

9. Plan and organize your life/activities to a reasonable degree allowing for unforeseeable circumstances, common sense flexibility/adaptability and God's will. Prioritize your activities in a way to best optimize your future. Make the best use of the resources you have available. See: Planning and and Organizational skills and Time management and Forecasting and Creativity and Problem solving and Resourcefulness

See also: Logical reasoning and Logic and Logical fallacies

Logical reasoning is a form of rational thinking that focuses on drawing conclusions from information using structural thinking and a rigorous approach. It involves analyzing premises and assumptions to see if they sufficently support a conclusion and ensuring the conclusion is reasonable based on the given evidence. It's a vital skill for Evidence-based thinking, critical thinking, decision making, problem solving, analytical thinking and systems thinking in various contexts, including legal reasoning.^[3]

The problem solving process involves "defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating options, and implementing a solution."^[4]

See also: Analytical thinking and Critical thinking and Problem solving and Creative problem solving and Intellectual curiosity

Analytical thinking and critical thinking are both crucial for problem solving, but they differ in their respective approaches. Analytical thinking focuses on breaking down complex information into smaller and more manageable parts to better understand the underlying principles and relationships (See also: Cause and effect and systems thinking). Critical thinking, on the other hand, involves evaluating information, forming better judgments, and questioning assumptions to arrive at well-reasoned and rational conclusions.^[5]

See also: Synthetic thinking

Synthetic thinking is a "cognitive process where one combines different ideas, information, or concepts to form a new, comprehensive understanding or solution. It involves integrating diverse elements to see how they connect and create a more complete picture. This approach is often contrasted with analytical thinking, which focuses on breaking down information into its components."^[6]

"Analytical thinking and synthetic thinking are distinct approaches to problem-solving. Analytical thinking involves breaking down a problem into smaller parts to understand its components, while synthetic thinking focuses on combining different ideas or elements to create something new or find a solution. Integrated thinking combines both analytical and synthetic thinking for a comprehensive approach."^[7]

See also: Structural thinking

Structural thinking is a way of better understanding the world through focusing on how things are organized and connected. It involves such things as recognizing patterns, relationships, and underlying systems to grasp the bigger picture and solve problems more effectively.^[8]

Probabilistic thinking is a way of approaching situations and potential problems by considering the likelihood of a different range of outcomes on a continuum rather than assuming a single, certain outcome. It involves acknowledging uncertainty, estimating probabilities, and making sound and wise decisions based on expected value. This approach can lead to more informed decisions and better management of risk in various aspects of life.^[9] Probabilistic thinking is useful in identifying the most likely outcomes and the best decisions to make.^[10]

Rational thinking employs probabilistic thinking. The opposite of probabilistic thinking is binary/all-or-nothing thinking, having an optimism bias such as having a "lottery mentality" or being a pessimist who engages in negative thinking (See: Cognitive bias).

See also: Systems thinking

Systems thinking is a holistic approach to problem solving that views issues as part of a larger, interconnected system. It focuses on understanding the relationships and interactions between different components within that system rather than analyzing them in isolation. It also prioritizes identifying how changes in one part of the system can impact other parts through feedback loops and interdependencies.^[11][12][13]

Dr. Watson and Holmes by Signey Paget

Detectives often use deductive reasoning.^[14]

See also: Deductive reasoning

Deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning in which a particular fact is deduced by applying a general law to another particular fact or case.^[15]

Specifically, deductive reasoning is a logical reasoning process "that starts with general statements and moves towards specific, certain conclusions. It's a "top-down" approach where, if the initial premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. This process is often used in mathematics, computer programming, and various problem-solving scenarios.^[16]

Deductive logic is characterized by certainty: in a valid argument, when the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. Take a classic argument of deductive logic:

P1: All men are mortal

P2: Socrates is a man.

C: Socrates is mortal.

The conclusion is "contained" in the premises. In this sense the conclusion can be said to "follow" from the premises. The conclusion, "Socrates is mortal", is also less informative than the premises, which imply not just that Socrates is mortal but that all men are also mortal. As a result, deductive logic is not thought to add to knowledge, merely to clarify it.

See also: Inductive reasoning and Principle of induction

Inductive reasoning is a type of reasoning in which a universal law or principle is established from repeated observations of the same phenomena.^[15]

Specifically, inductive reasoning is a "method of reasoning where you make broad generalizations based on specific observations or experiences. It starts with a set of specific examples and moves towards a general conclusion or theory. This type of reasoning is often used in scientific research and everyday decision-making to identify patterns and make predictions."^[17]

Intelligent design theory and the argument from beauty both use abductive reasoning.

See also: Abductive reasoning and Logical reasoning and Probabilistic thinking

Abductive reasoning or abduction infers unseen facts, events, or causes in the past from clues or facts in the present. It is a type of reasoning used by historical scientists when they reason from clues back to causes.^[18] The American philosopher and logician Charles Sanders Peirce was the first to describe it. As he noted, the problem with abductive reasoning is that there is often more than one cause that can explain the same effect. He suggested that a particular abductive hypothesis can be firmly established if it can be shown that it represents the best or only explanation of the "manifest effects" in question.^[15]

"To evaluate an abductive argument, focus on assessing the plausibility of the explanation it offers for observed facts. Consider whether the explanation is coherent, consistent with known facts, and the simplest among competing explanations. Additionally, check if the explanation accounts for all available evidence and if any alternative explanations are more plausible."^[19]

"In abductive reasoning, plausibility refers to the degree to which a generated hypothesis is believable and consistent with the observed facts and background knowledge. It's about finding the most likely explanation, even if it's not absolutely certain. Plausibility is a key factor in evaluating and selecting the best explanation from a set of possible hypotheses in abductive reasoning."^[20]

Probabilistic thinking and abductive reasoning are "closely related. Abductive reasoning, often described as "inference to the best explanation," involves forming a hypothesis or educated guess to account for a set of observations, especially when the information is incomplete or uncertain. Probabilistic thinking provides the framework for evaluating the likelihood of these different hypotheses."^[21]

See also: Integrative thinking

Integrative thinking is a "decision-making approach where opposing ideas or perspectives are not seen as mutually exclusive, but rather as opportunities to create a superior, novel solution that incorporates elements from both. It's about moving beyond "either/or" choices and finding a way to synthesize conflicting viewpoints into a more comprehensive and innovative outcome."^[22]

"Integrative thinking, popularized by Roger Martin, is a method for creatively resolving tensions between opposing ideas to generate a superior new model. It involves understanding the core elements of each model and synthesizing them into something new and better, rather than choosing one over the other. This approach is valuable for complex problem-solving and innovation, encouraging open-mindedness and collaboration.^[23]

The Rotman School of Management notes concerning integrative thinking:

See also: Interdisciplinary thinking

Interdisciplinary thinking, which is a part of interdisciplinarity studies, "is the ability to combine knowledge, methods, and perspectives from different academic disciplines to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a topic or solve a complex problem. It involves recognizing the interconnectedness of various fields and integrating their insights to develop innovative solutions and approaches."^[25]

20th century Vienna and "exact thinking"

Graben Street in Vienna

The article The Untold Story of Vienna’s Global Influence indicates:

See also: Writing

• Statistically, how much will improving one’s writing ability improve and verbal/speaking ability improve one's thinking ability?, AI

• The Thinker's Way: 8 Steps to a Richer Life by John Chafee. The Thinker's Way : 8 Steps to a Richer Life

Other related books

33% of high school graduates never read another book the rest of their lives and 42% of college grads never read another book after college.^[27]

See also: Books on decision making

• The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions by Hasard Lee. St. Martin's Press; First Edition (May 23, 2023)
• How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices by Annie Duke. Portfolio; Illustrated edition (October 13, 2020)
• Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by Annie Duke. Portfolio; Illustrated edition (February 6, 2018)
• The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler. W. W. Norton & Company; Fully Revised edition (May 8, 2018)
• The Science of Intelligent Decision Making: How to Think More Clearly, Save Your Time, and Maximize Your Happiness. Destroy Indecision! by Peter Hollins. ASIN: B06Y46DTLC. Publication date: April 8, 2017
• Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Crown Currency; 1st edition (March 26, 2013)
• Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dr. Dan Ariely. ASIN: 0061353248. Harper Perennial. April 27, 2010

Christian books on decision making:

• Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move by Andy Stanley. Zondervan (October 20, 2020)
• What's Your Decision?: How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity: An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making by Father J. Michael Sparough SJ, Jim Manney, Father Tim Hipskind SJ. Loyola Press; First Edition (March 1, 2010)

Business related books on decision making:

• Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions by John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney and Howard Raiffa. Harvard Business Review Press; 1st edition (August 25, 2015)

• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Strategic thinking
• Abstract thinking
• Divergent thinking
• Convergent thinking

• How to Train Yourself to Be a More Rational Thinker
• How to begin living more rationally
• Rational Thinking: The Key to Making Better Decisions and Solving Problems
• How much will studying the various types of thinking such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, critical thinking, synthetic thinking, structural thinking, probabilistic thinking, systems thinking, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, abductive reasoning, integrative thinking, and interdisciplinary thinking improve one's thinking if done in an integrative way?, AI