Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Rational choices and plans
- 3 A theory of thinking
- 4 The scheme fleshed out: a decision–theoretic analysis of thinking
- 5 Conditions of effective thinking
- 6 Effects of rational thinking on the individual and society
- 7 The teaching of rational thinking
- References
- Index
5 - Conditions of effective thinking
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Rational choices and plans
- 3 A theory of thinking
- 4 The scheme fleshed out: a decision–theoretic analysis of thinking
- 5 Conditions of effective thinking
- 6 Effects of rational thinking on the individual and society
- 7 The teaching of rational thinking
- References
- Index
Summary
In the last two chapters, I outlined a theory of the rational conduct of thinking. In this theory, rationality is defined in terms of the setting of certain parameters. It is not defined as intelligence is usually defined, namely in terms of effectiveness or success. The factors that make thinking effective or ineffective in a given case include many abilities, knowledge, and luck, as well as rationality in the conduct of thinking. These other factors have so far been treated as extraneous to the theory, as factors that need to be taken into account in setting parameters, but not as determinants of rationality itself. (For example, the expectation of the value of further thinking reasonably depends on one's ability.) In the present chapter, I address the role of these factors in determining the success of thinking. I shall assume here that parameters are set optimally, so that rationality is not a factor. This chapter thus fleshes out some of the claims of chapter 1 concerning the relation between intelligence and narrow intelligence.
Limits on cognitive processes
I begin with what I take to be a textbook analysis of the major limits on cognitive processes. The major limits I consider are speed, selective attention, limited capacity, primary memory, and secondary memory. I try to show how each of these limits could affect thinking itself. I also discuss the problems involved in empirical study of these limits.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Rationality and Intelligence , pp. 168 - 205Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1985