Since many people missed the point of my last question.... What are some systems of thought other than logic?

Question

Logic is a system of thought developed by the ancient Greeks. What are some other systems of thought? Intelligent answers only please.

Answer 1

Abductive reasoning
Abstract thinking
Analogy
Analysis
Assessment
Attitude
Calculation
Categorization
Characteristics of thought
Cognition
Cognitive restructuring
Cognitive space
Cognitive style
Concept-formation
Common sense
Concept
Conceptual thinking
Conjecture
Concrete concepts
Constructive criticism
Creative thought processes
Creativity
Creativity techniques
Critical thinking
Decision
Decision making
Decision-making processes
Deductive reasoning
Definition
Distinction (philosophy)
Emotion
Emotionally-based thinking skills
Emotions
Estimation
Evaluation
Expectation
Explanation
Gestalt psychology
Heuristics
Historical thinking
Hypothesis
Idea
Identification (information)
Inductive reasoning
Inference
Inquiry
Instinct
Intelligence
Intentionality
Introspection
Knowledge management
Language
Lateral thinking
Learning
Learning processes
Linguistics
Logic
Logical argument
Logical assertion
Meaning (linguistics)
Meaning (non-linguistic)
Meaning (semiotics)
Mental calculation
Mental function
Metacognition (thinking about thinking)
Mind's eye
Mindset
Multiple intelligences
Multitasking
NLP
Object Pairing
Organizational thought
Pattern matching
Perceptive processes
Personal experience
Personality
Picture thinking
Po
Prediction
Premise
Problem finding
Problem shaping
Problem solving
Proposition
Qualities of thought
Rationality
Reason
Reasoning
Reasoning event
Self-reflection
Sapience
Semantic network
Semantics
Semiosis
Semiotics
Six Thinking Hats
Speech act
Stream of consciousness
Syllogism
Synectics
Systems intelligence
Systems thinking
Thinkabout
Thinking
Thinking errors
Thinking maps
Thinking process
Thought
Thought characteristics
Thought experiment
TRIZ
Vertical thinking
Visual thinking
Working memory
Writing

Answer 2

I'm going to assume that by "system of thought" you don't simply mean a way people might think, but something that has been systematized (in the way logic was by Aristotle). That's a tougher question. The talmud provides a set of rules of inference for use in determining what laws can be "learned out" of the torah. This might be regarded as simply a different attempt at systematizing logic, and so you might not consider it a different system of thought. But, while there are parrellels to traditional logic (e.g. inference rules based on moving from the specific to the general), the talmudic rules deviate enough in some cases (e.g. rules of inference based on justaposition of text, etc) that they might be considered a separate system of thought.

Try this site if you want more details:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=34&letter=T

Answer 3

Some good answers here, but they left out two things I consider absolutely essential to the human being: instinct and intuition.
Since I suppose that you are wanting methods by which Man deals with his world, and whatever comes along in it.
Instinct, though often regarded as reflexive rather than rational, is merely the reaction to sub-consciously perceived cues, and as such must be ranked herein, no matter that it involves less than conscious thought. I am not a big proponent of Freud, but it is undeniable to those who have paid attention, that not all thought is either conscious or rational. Just because you cannot trace it, doesn't mean it isn't thought.
Intuition, which might be defined as 'underground processing', must also be included as a system of thought, though it is also not 'visible.' Humans are aware of so much more than they consciously think about, that there has to be a system for processing all those things they don't stop to look at in the moment to moment world, and intuition is one of the major ways that the human mind sifts the overt and subliminal information the brain receives but does not collate in the upper apparatus which we call the conscious mind.
A good point to make here, is the difference between word-thought and those things which are processed without the definition and structure of language, for instance those cues and reactions that make for balance, for vision. For all the senses, really. Thanks to the Greeks, among others, we tend to think that if it doesn't happen in words, it isn't thought, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Thought might more accurately be defined as the process of the brain by which the human being interprets and interacts with his world, and that would include far more non-linguistic processes than those which require words.
Thus, Instinct and intuition, which are not apparent systems of thought, really must be considered as such, since they so often directly translate into linguistic thought when the mind perceives the necessity of bringing them to the front of the mind.

Answer 4

Logic ultimately derives from Logos: the Word. In a broad sense, any thought system that incoporates the use of language, the idea, the representation is a logical system. So it may be that a non-logical thought system is impossible for humans as the very condition of being human involves the representative linguistic act. As it says in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word (Logos)..." Perhaps this is quite correct.

Answer 5

I would like to remind you that Logic is not a system developed by the Greeks, that is a mistake and sometimes deliberate mistake that western people make, Greeks have been making lots of commitments to the world culture, but before them were great nations like Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Persians, Babylonians sirens and so on, who have been much more progressive, Logical thinking depends on intellect of individuals and the environment who the person is raised, I am convinced that you gut enough different answers which are

Answer 6

Ah well. I think you mean western logic( if a = b and b=c then a=c).You can watch the belly button watchers bend themselves into pretzels trying to clasify thoughts processes, but i've found 2 main groups, if organic definitions suffice. one is the linear western preffered approach ( pull up on a rope to raise a package to the first floor) and the other, for want of a better term, Eastern philosiphy (Pull up on a rope to raise a package to the first floor but have a second rope pulling in the other direction to steady the load). The ying/yang the duality of nature, the maya (everything is an illusion
It is an organic and natural approach but like all things discused it is only a model. Let us not confuse the model for the thing.

Rob

Answer 7

Logic demands rules. Not good rules, not logical rules, but plain rules that one can put one after the other and produce a logical assumption. So the other system will be the one without any rules, everything goes and everything is acceptable.

Answer 8

The Greeks also recognized the process of using the emotions to arrive to decisions (eros). They also had a system of thought that revolved around ethics (ethos).

Answer 9

Isn't there a form of thought where one uses the other side of their brain and think in an artistic fashion and then back to the first side isn't there a form of thought where one just throws ideas out and others join in and...
...what do they call it?

Oh! Brainstorm.

There are probably as many ways to thinks as there are minds to do the thinking. We try to clump them into categories and we use logic to try to sort it all out. Below is site to show yet another way of thinking that I found intriguing.

Answer 10

Thought Systems are considered to consist of five principal types of components namely: Data Systems, Information Systems, Knowledge Systems, Will Systems and Feeling Systems.