Thinking Process and Intelligence

Overview: 
Concepts, Reasoning, and differences among concepts, categories, ideas, archetypes. Decision-making, Problem-solving. Modern theories of decision making. Early trauma and how it affects decision making. Why studying decision making can benefit a psychotherapist. What traits could a psychotherapist or educator or parent can cultivate so that the person can develop wise decision making.

PART 1: Warm-Up
Let’s watch this mind-blowing animated Socratic dialogue … in cartoon form! Steven Pinker is gradually, brilliantly persuaded by philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein that reason is actually the key driver of human moral progress, even if its effect sometimes takes generations to unfold.

PART 2: Videolectures

Videolecture 1: On concepts

Videolecture 2: On Decision-Making

PART 3: Study Material

Notes on Concepts, thinking and Reasoning

How do we Make Decisions?

Various Approaches to Decision-Making

Understanding the Dynamics of Decision-making and Choice

Logical Reasoning (Book by Bradley Dawden)

An essay concerning human understanding (Book II)_John Locke

Aristotle’s First Principles (Book)

Aristotle’s Theory of Definition

PART 4: For your Self-Assessment/ Reflection Lifeline.
1. On Free Will: Watch the video that follows and write down your own thoughts

2. Think of the most significant decision you have had to make so far. Perhaps the decision to be born and be part of this experience? Something else? What? Describe it.
Then reflect on the process that helped you make the specific decision. In retrospect, was it a good/ wise decision? What would you have done different if given the chance?

3. Reflect on the qualities that you need to develop in a client (please give a short description of the case) so that (s)he can make the wise decisions as concerns his/her own health and wellbeing. How do you think these qualities can be strengthened?

Please, feel free to share your mind, as your answers are not right or wrong. The important thing is for you to see your critical thinking skills.