Ability to abstract is a happy ability to think abstractly

The main difference between a person as a thinking being and representatives of the rest of the living world that inhabits our planet is the ability to think in abstract categories.

What is abstract thinking?

Mental activity of any animal is limited to specific concepts and goals, consisting in the desire to get the necessary amount of food and give offspring. People in their majority are more complicated.

There is a well-known story about the famous fashion designer, who started his lecture with a proposal to imagine that the human body has the shape of a ball. Part of the shocked audience left the hall, and completely in vain. The rest of the material was very interesting, and the example demonstrated the need for the ability to abstract. This applies not only to tailoring costumes and dresses, but almost any kind of human activity.

In the process of work there are problems that are sometimes so numerous that the task seems impossible. Difficulties multiply, they begin to grow in cross-links, and it is already unclear how to begin. In such a situation, the most effective method of sequential resolution of many problems is analysis, that is, the dismemberment of the general problem into a number of simpler ones.

Define the main

On this algorithm, however, does not end. Each of the components of the overall complex task requires its solution, which should be sought in an abstract way. It is temporary to ignore all the circumstances that are not relevant to the narrowly delineated issue, or to abstract. This ability and allows the human mind to make scientific discoveries, create immortal works of art and solve the most complex technical problems.

To distinguish grains from chaff, essential from insignificant, the main thing from unnecessary is to be able both the scientist, and the engineer, and the poet. But what about the ordinary life of ordinary people? Ability to abstract, that is, to be distracted from everything of secondary importance, is very important for every person. According to the poet, our planet is poorly equipped for pleasures. All the time, some circumstances make it difficult to work or rest. To achieve ideal conditions for both, and for another, is extremely difficult, if at all possible. One thing remains - to abstract. This means that in the event of undesirable circumstances interfering with life and the inability to eliminate them, they must be ignored.

In this case, of course, the effect of interference should be minimized in all possible ways. For example, to get rid of noise, it's not enough just not to pay attention to it (it can not all). But you can plug your ears with cotton.

The medicine for fear

Ability to abstract is not only a means of solving many complex problems, but also a sure way to deal with fears. For example, if a person is afraid of heights, but is forced to often fly on airplanes, he should be detached from unpleasant emotions. For this it is sufficient to understand that during the voyage from the passenger its safety does not depend. The pilot is responsible for her, and therefore he should be worried. Still there is a nagging statistical argument that driving a car is much more risky.

In addition, people sometimes have to overcome fears much stronger than those that occur in some passengers of airliners. A well-known soldier's rule says that you do not need to fear death. While a person is alive, there is none, and as soon as she comes, there will be no one to be afraid. This is a vivid example of the ability to stay away from danger, of course, but from panic horror, which prevents normal thinking.

In schools, colleges and universities you can get a lot of useful knowledge. About where and how to learn to abstract, there is no exhaustive information. There are people who have such a talent from nature, but most of them comprehend this wisdom on their own together with the acquisition of life experience.