Dialectical thinking is a unique ability, without which people could not conduct reasonable dialogues with others, skillfully reason, exchange opinions, and build logical chains in their thoughts. This is the most important component for the formation of modern society and various spheres of human activity.
In order to prepare specialists who could freely navigate in the surrounding cycle of reality, show resourcefulness and come to extraordinary conclusions, teachers try to instill such thinking in children from preschool age. In this article, we consider in more detail what this concept is.
General information
The methodological role of dialectics is to recognize the general algorithms of the studied objects, to understand how they develop. As a result of this process, the essence of the subject is comprehended. In addition, the method helps the researcher to understand his own thinking. Through dialectic algorithms, the subject can consistently build personal judgments, sift detected errors and fill in the gaps. Logic schemes allow you to draw general conclusions and systematize the results.
Definition
Based on the foregoing, we will try to define this concept. As you can see, dialectical thinking is the ability to reason, skillfully mastering the arguments, and correctly express your thoughts. Such a mindset is reflective, that is, it is able to detect and analyze contradictions in the process of researching an object and within itself. There is a close relationship between the existing and the developing. For example, in materialism two theories are combined: the development of the physical world in conjunction with the logic of knowledge. In philosophy, dialectical thinking is mainly used for argumentation. Let's see how this happened in practice.
In philosophy
The art of reasoning is based on Indian and European philosophical traditions. This method became popular thanks to the concept of Plato, in which he used the dialogues of people. Similar reasoning was conducted as follows: two subjects, whose opinions were contradictory, had to come to a common truth, exchanging their speculations. From the time of Hegel, the dialectical way of thinking began to be opposed to metaphysics.
Gradually, this method took on a different form. As progress progressed, changes occurred in the content of dialectics. Now it is considered as a separate science, which is based on the principles of abstraction. In this regard, there are two main forms of objective logical thinking:
- materialistic;
- philosophical.
How forms developed
Initially, philosophical teachings had a naive-dialectic and elemental-materialistic essence. The first form of dialectics is antique. It formed about 2500 years ago in ancient Greece, India and China. Such wisdom was also characteristic of Eastern philosophers. According to ancient thinking, emphasis was placed on the paired categories of mental algorithms, that is, finding a single basis for ideas that were already ripe from different ideas. As well as symbols and images both in well-known philosophical directions and in esoteric ones. This is a single form in which the struggle of contradictions in the content of thinking is traced. Such an exotic concept was not quite familiar to Europeans. Nevertheless, it was theoretically justified and set up thinkers to find a reasonable basis, the ultimate goal of which is to search for the interdependence of categories of thinking.
In each country, the concept we are discussing was of a different nature. Therefore, the forms of dialectical thinking underwent changes. For example, in Marxism it was presented as a reflector of laws in the formation of matter, which is constantly in motion and develops on its own. Karl Marx's view of materialistic dialectics is the opposite of the concepts that Hegel set forth in his work. In his philosophy, it implies a transition from one inference to another, in which it is found that these definitions are limited and one-sided, they deny themselves. Only materialistic thinking was allowed in the USSR; other forms of dialectics were regarded with great suspicion. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, on the contrary, it lost its significance. Although some authors evaluated the materialistic form positively.
Materialist dialectics
Some modern philosophers, referring to this way of thinking, associate it exclusively with human actions or activities. In the 21st century, scientists began to introduce dialectics into science. This helps to resolve antagonistic trends, to make them accessible and intelligible. Also paradoxical and unusual contradictions in all types of scientific research, including applied mathematics. This form of thinking has been confirmed in biology. All organisms are subject to constant metabolic and evolutionary changes with their specific information content and physico-chemical development according to a strict determinate plan. Most often, dialectics is used in psychology and sociology.
The concept
The dialectical method of thinking in our time implies objective judgment. This is a science that reveals general patterns, their development and study of nature, including rational subjects and their mental abilities. What is meant by the laws of nature? These are concepts without restrictions and any conditions. They are carried out always and everywhere, in different areas of our life, including everyday. This allows people to think more broadly, coming from general concepts to particular ones, from top to bottom. When such an interconnection is taken into account, the laws of chemistry, physics, technology and others fall to a lower level. Thus, the dialectical way of thinking prevails over the private sciences. This means that it is relevant for modern man and must be mastered.
The relevance of objective knowledge
A full-fledged vital activity for a person is ensured by the learning process, which begins from the moment of his birth. The individual changes depending on the results of his activities in the general environment. It is even more important to gain human socio-historical experience. It is compiled in cognitive systems, manufacturing and languages. All this forms the basis of norms and values, correcting the cooperation of different personalities and their social ties. Such development concerns both individuals and society as a whole.
Given the rapid expansion of the use of electronic computing technology, the development of natural sciences, social structure, economics and other sciences, a need arises for young specialists who could think dialectically.
The basics
Dialectics is a methodology of thinking, which is attributed to the main methods of scientific knowledge. It includes the following elements:
- principles;
- the laws;
- categories.
Consider these aspects in more detail.
Principles
The basic concepts include the following concepts:
- A comprehensive approach. It involves an objective study of the subject with all its relationships.
- Dynamism. Studying an object in motion.
- The unity between the logical and the historical. Finding cause-effect phenomena. Their consistent relationship on a historical background.
- The coming from the abstract to the exact. Here it is necessary to proceed from a banal built model of reality and move towards an extremely clear and concrete picture of the world.
The laws
Materialistic thinking is based on the laws of the main and secondary. The first include:
- The relationship in the transition of qualitative and quantitative changes. At some point, violations occur in the unity of these components. As a result, the phenomenon acquires the qualitative state of a new form.
- Spiral development or natural negation. The transformation of the phenomenon occurs, on the one hand, by moving forward to other qualities. On the other hand, there is a return to the old by repeating individual properties of the same characteristic features on a new basis.
- Interaction and unity of contradictions. The impetus for their development is their internal discrepancies.
Categories and secondary laws
The category of dialectical thinking is the broadest concept, showing universal oppositions and interconnections, most of which are paired. Being and non-being are the basic foundation of mental algorithms.
Secondary laws include:
- general and singular;
- necessity and chance;
- content and form;
- causal relationship;
- essence and phenomenon;
- whole and partial.
Formation
As already mentioned, the dialectical method of philosophical thinking can be applied in many areas of human activity. This imposes a certain measure of responsibility on teachers in order to form it among students. As practice has shown, deep knowledge of several sciences at once turns out to be ineffective. According to the teachings of ancient thinkers, this method does not teach reason. Knowledge may lose its relevance or become obsolete. Indeed, quite often it happens that unclaimed information only lays an unnecessary burden on a person’s memory.
In this regard, attention is focused on the education of a thinking creative person. Everything is now aimed at updating the training system. It also boils down to the fact that without the development of dialectical thinking among teachers it is impossible to solve general educational problems. For this purpose, research manuals for teachers have been developed. Here are some works: V.I. Andreeva, A.S. Belkina, L.G. Vyatkina, N.M. Zvereva, V.D.Simenov, V.I. Zhuravlev, and Yu.N. Kulutkin.
In psychology and pedagogy, two of the most popular areas are being developed. From innovative technologies of education and training, one can pay attention to the following works: L. M. Fridman, L. V. Putlyaev, A. A. Verbitsky, L. M. Mitina. For the personal formation of strategies that can be implemented in communication and professional thinking: V. N. Myasishchev, A. V. Brushlinsky, V. D. Shadrikov, A. A. Bodalev, I. S. Yakimanskaya.
The formation of logical thinking in preschoolers
As the experience of the TRIZ learning process (theory of solving inventive problems) shows, it is possible to form dialectic thinking in preschoolers. The main thing is to state it in an accessible form for babies. Specialists have developed exercises and games for preschoolers, on the basis of which children themselves can discover the basic laws of dialectics.
Consider one example. Resolution of contradictions contributes to the development process. In this case, the confrontation is the contact of two conflicting desires or quality requirements of the same subject. This object is a room in which the father intends to relax, and the child to play or listen to music. There is a need to resolve the contradiction, and, therefore, the process of development of the situation.
A significant contribution to the formation of logical thinking in a baby can be made by the parents themselves. This will help the small person to conduct reasonable conversations with other people, find the right solutions in unusual situations. The child needs to be made clear that winning the dispute at all costs is not the essence of logical thinking. It is important to teach him how to resolve disputes and conflicts through peaceful conversation, with compelling arguments. The sooner you begin to do this, the better the child’s perception will trigger. The formation of dialectical thinking is an important component for the development of personality.