A Structural Theory of Thinking: On the Conditions of Correct and Incorrect Cognition

This theory proposes, for the first time, a theoretical framework that addresses the fundamental problem of incorrect thinking in scientific, philosophical, and humanistic disciplines. It argues that the principal source of cognitive error lies in the failure to recognize the staged development of human thought—a failure that confines the thinker within the immediacy of his own thinking.

The theory maintains that correct thinking becomes possible only when the individual acquires the capacity to take reflective distance from his own thinking and to become aware of the manner in which thought operates. This capacity is not merely logical or psychological; rather, it is ontological and epistemological in nature and involves a transformation in the structure of cognition itself.

Rather than introducing a new set of prescriptive rules, this framework offers a structural reconfiguration of thinking, enabling the thinker to identify and correct errors arising from cognitive self-enclosure. By clarifying the conditions under which reflective distance from one’s own thinking becomes possible, it provides a universal and applicable model relevant to diverse fields of inquiry. Accordingly, the proposed framework contributes to ongoing debates about rationality, methodology, and human cognition by presenting a unified account of sound thinking grounded in structural cognitive development.

Theorist and Originator of the Theory:

Dr. Alireza Rashidi