On a 1-to-10 scale, how skilled are you at ABSTRACT THINKING (use of connections, concepts, metaphors, etc.)?

Question

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What USE can you imagine for abstract thinking?

1 = VERY POOR (Sees no relationship between a screwdriver & a screw)
10 = SUPERB (Similar to a quantum physicist or theoretical mathematician)

Please also include the reasons for your self-evaluation score and some description of your faith tradition.

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Woody:(^_^) Bad metaphors (and bad poetry) do not equate with good abstract thinking.

Answer 1

I am skilled enough in abstract thinking to reject the numerical scale you propose, which is rather judgmental, in favor of a non-linear, multi-dimensional model of personalities and learning abilities that adjusts to the possibility that EVERYONE is here for a purpose, and deserves respect for their potential contribution. Besides, physicians and mathematicians train for their work, which is quite specialized, and not all of them possess greater amounts of the qualities you listed - a Zen Buddhist.

Answer 2

I would say that I am either an 8 or 9. I think outside of the box more often than in. Most people like to tease me about my philosophical thoughts, telling me that the average person does not think about things the way I do. I don't give myself a 10 though because can anyone be THAT skilled with it?

I was raised as a Christian but am currently going through a time in my life where I am searching for answers.

Answer 3

9. I'm not a quantum physicist by trade, but I get it as far as I think someone who doesn't make a living studying it can... and, I get the Tao, and did the moment I read about it.

The most practical application of abstract thinking is comprehending possibilities. Abstract thought begins outside the box and imagines all the places we can go. It is the flagship of progress, tolerance, flexibility.

"Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what is wrong. All human progress, even in morals, has been the work of men who have doubted the current moral values, not of men who have whooped them up and tried to enforce them. The truly civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant."
- H.L.Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)


Pagan Taoist

Answer 4

9.5 (I'm changing my score because people put higher scores than me...)

This might be an unfair test, I mean anyone who doesn't know a screw from a screwdriver can come along and put 10 but I think I'm pretty good at this, partly from native intelligence and a lifetime of esoteric and philosophical thought, reading about quantum physics and cosmology and such and now I'm learning about 1st order predicate logic so everything can have a firm foundation.

I'd actually quite like to be a quantum physicist. I'd like to prove mathematically that singularities don't exist.

I'm an atheist.

Answer 5

9 or 10

I have always scored high at abstract thinking and tended towards abstract subjects, such as philosophy and theory. I am quite bad with "real life examples" and "normal concerns." I teach college drawing and am very good at getting across concepts about art and perception, but my students are always confused about when I said the homework is due, which assignment, and most things that should be no-brainers for me to get across. I can't remember names to save my life, but I can remember every drawing they ever did in my class from memory. I can instantly give an impromptu lecture on the history of modernist art education in the West, but my shirt is never pressed and I wear the same pants to class almost every day.

Answer 6

I can only say I tend to be better than most, though by definition I cannot evaluate any levels beyond my own, so I cannot know where I fall on a scale.

I am a strong agnostic/weak atheist, so no faith tradition

Answer 7

I think I am about a 7. I love metaphors and fairly good at coming up with them. I am an atheist, by the way.

Answer 8

i think i do well with metaphorical thinking. i would give myself a 5 or 6 in that department.
description of faith tradition--beleive in God. thats it basically. try to follow the message i get from the bible and pray that God gave me some good logic. really, cant explain it any other way.

Answer 9

Around 8. A research foundation measured it. I'm Protestant and feel at home with many teachings of other religions. I 'm especially interested in Pantheism and the concept of immanence.

Answer 10

10

My perfect Math GRE scores and My score in the top 100 in the nation in the Putnam exam when I was in college and my previous career as a NASA mathematician would indicate that anyway.

I am an atheist.