Intuition - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Intuition

Intuition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without proof, evidence, or conscious reasoning, or
without understanding how the knowledge was acquired.[1][2] Different writers give the word
"intuition" a great variety of different meanings, ranging from direct access to unconscious
knowledge, unconscious cognition, inner sensing, inner insight to unconscious pattern-recognition
and the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.
[3][4]There are philosophers who contend that the word "intuition" is often misunderstood or
misused to mean instinct, truth, belief, meaning, and other subjects, whereas others contend that
faculties such as instinct, belief and intuition are factually related.[5][6]

The word "intuition" comes from the Latin verb intueri translated as consider or from late middle
English word intuit, "to contemplate".[1]

Contents
1 Philosophy
1.1 Eastern philosophy
1.1.1 Hinduism
1.1.2 Buddhism
1.1.3 Islam
1.2 Western philosophy
2 Psychology
2.1 Jung
2.2 Modern psychology
3 Colloquial usage
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Philosophy
Both Eastern and Western philosophers have studied the concept in great detail. Philosophy of mind
deals with the concept of intuition. There are philosophers who contend that this concept is often
confused with other concepts such as truth, belief, and meaning in philosophical discussion.[6]

Eastern philosophy

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In the East intuition is mostly intertwined with religion and spirituality, and various meanings exist
from different religious texts.[7]

Hinduism

In Hinduism various attempts have been made to interpret the Vedic and other esoteric texts.

For Sri Aurobindo intuition comes under the realms of knowledge by identity, he describes the
psychological plane in human (often referred to as mana in sanskrit) has two arbitrary nature, the
first being imprinting of psychological experiences which is constructed through sensory
information (mind seeking to become aware of external world). The second nature being the action
when it seeks to be aware of itself, resulting in humans being aware of their existence or aware of
being angry & aware of other emotions, he terms this second nature is knowledge by identity.[8] He
finds that at present as the result of evolution the mind has accustomed itself to depend upon certain
physiological functioning and their reactions as its normal means of entering into relation with
outer material world, as a result when we seek to know about external world the dominant habit is
through arriving at truth about things via as much as senses convey to us. However with knowledge
by identity which we currently only gives the awareness of human beings existence can be
extended further to outside of ourselves resulting in intuitive knowledge.[9]

He finds this intuitive knowledge was common to older humans (Vedic) and later was taken over by
reason which currently organises our perception, thoughts and actions resulting in from Vedic to
metaphysical philosophy and later to experimental science. he finds that this process which seems
to be a decent, is actual a circle of progress. As a lower faculty is being pushed to take up as much
from a higher way of working.[10] He finds when self-awareness in mind is applied to own-self and
the outer (other-Self), results in luminous self-manifest identity, the reason also converts itself into
the form of the self-luminous intuitional knowledge.[11][12][13]

Osho believed consciousness of human beings to be in increasing order from basic animal instincts
to intelligence and intuition, and humans being constantly living in that conscious state often
moving between these states depending on their affinity and he also suggests living in the state of
intuition is one of the ultimate aims of humanity.[14]

Advaita vedanta (a school of thought) takes intuition to be an experience through which one can
come in contact with and experience Brahman.[15]

Buddhism

Buddhism finds intuition being a faculty in the mind of immediate knowledge and puts the term
intuition beyond mental process of conscious thinking, as the conscious intellect cannot necessarily
access subconscious information, or render such information into a communicable form.[16] In Zen
Buddhism various techniques have been developed to help develop ones intuitive capability, such
as k-an the resolving of which leads to states of minor enlightenment (satori). In parts of Zen

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Buddhism intuition is deemed a mental state between the Universal mind and one's individual,
discriminating mind.[17][18]

Islam

In Islam there are various scholars with varied interpretation of intuition (often termed as hads,
hitting correctly on a mark), sometimes relating the ability of having intuitive knowledge to prophet
hood. Sihb al Din-al Suhrawadi in his book philosophy of illumination (ishrq) finds intuition is a
knowledge got through illumination and is mystical in nature and also suggests mystical
contemplation(mushhada) on this to bring about correct judgements.[19] while Ibn Sn finds the
ability of having intuition as a "prophetic capacity" terms it as a knowledge obtained without
intentionally acquiring it. He finds regular knowledge is based on imitation while intuitive
knowledge as based on intellectual certitude.[20]

Western philosophy

In the West, intuition does not appear as a separate field of study, and early mention and definition
can be traced back to Plato. In his book Republic he tries to define intuition as a fundamental
capacity of human reason to comprehend the true nature of reality.[21] In his discussion with Meno
& Phaedo, he describes intuition as a pre-existing knowledge residing in the "soul of eternity," and
a phenomenon by which one becomes conscious of pre-existing knowledge. He provides an
example of mathematical truths, and posits that they are not arrived at by reason. He argues that
these truths are accessed using a knowledge already present in a dormant form and accessible to our
intuitive capacity. This concept by Plato is also sometimes referred to as anamnesis. The study was
later continued by his followers.[22]

In his book Meditations on first philosophy, Descartes refers to an intuition as a pre-existing

knowledge gained through rational reasoning or discovering truth through contemplation. This
definition is commonly referred to as rational intuition.[23] Later philosophers, such as Hume, have
more ambiguous interpretations of intuition. Hume claims intuition is a recognition of relationships
(relation of time, place, and causation) while he states that "the resemblance" (recognition of
relations) "will strike the eye" (which would not require further examination) but goes on to state,
"or rather in mind" attributing intuition to power of mind, contradicting the theory of empiricism.
[24][25]

Immanuel Kant finds intuition is thought of as basic sensory information provided by the cognitive
faculty of sensibility (equivalent to what might loosely be called perception). Kant held that our
mind casts all of our external intuitions in the form of space, and all of our internal intuitions
(memory, thought) in the form of time.[26] Intuitionism is a position advanced by Luitzen Egbertus
Jan Brouwer in philosophy of mathematics derived from Kant's claim that all mathematical
knowledge is knowledge of the pure forms of the intuition that is, intuition that is not empirical.
Intuitionistic logic was devised by Arend Heyting to accommodate this position (and has been
adopted by other forms of constructivism in general). It is characterized by rejecting the law of

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excluded middle: as a consequence it does not in general accept rules such as double negation
elimination and the use of reductio ad absurdum to prove the existence of something.

Intuitions are customarily appealed to independently of any particular theory of how intuitions
provide evidence for claims, and there are divergent accounts of what sort of mental state intuitions
are, ranging from mere spontaneous judgment to a special presentation of a necessary truth.[27]
However, in recent years a number of philosophers, especially George Bealer have tried to defend
appeals to intuition against Quinean doubts about conceptual analysis.[28] A different challenge to
appeals to intuition has recently come from experimental philosophers, who argue that appeals to
intuition must be informed by the methods of social science.

The metaphilosophical assumption that philosophy depends on intuitions has recently been
challenged by some philosophers. Timothy Williamson has argued that intuition plays no special
role in philosophy practice, and that skepticism about intuition cannot be meaningfully separated
from a general skepticism about judgment. On this view, there are no qualitative differences
between the methods of philosophy and common sense, the sciences or mathematics.[29]

Psychology
Jung

In Carl Jung's theory of the ego, described in 1916 in Psychological Types, intuition is an "irrational
function", opposed most directly by sensation, and opposed less strongly by the "rational functions"
of thinking and feeling. Jung defined intuition as "perception via the unconscious": using sense-
perception only as a starting point, to bring forth ideas, images, possibilities, ways out of a blocked
situation, by a process that is mostly unconscious.[30]

Jung said that a person in whom intuition is dominant, an "intuitive type", acts not on the basis of
rational judgment but on sheer intensity of perception. An extraverted intuitive type, "the natural
champion of all minorities with a future", orients to new and promising but unproven possibilities,
often leaving to chase after a new possibility before old ventures have borne fruit, oblivious to his
or her own welfare in the constant pursuit of change. An introverted intuitive type orients by
images from the unconscious, ever exploring the psychic world of the archetypes, seeking to
perceive the meaning of events, but often having no interest in playing a role in those events and
not seeing any connection between the contents of the psychic world and him- or herself. Jung
thought that extraverted intuitive types were likely entrepreneurs, speculators, cultural
revolutionaries, often undone by a desire to escape every situation before it becomes settled and
constrainingeven repeatedly leaving lovers for the sake of new romantic possibilities. His
introverted intuitive types were likely mystics, prophets, or cranks, struggling with a tension
between protecting their visions from influence by others and making their ideas comprehensible
and reasonably persuasive to othersa necessity for those visions to bear real fruit.[30]

Modern psychology

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In more-recent psychology, intuition can encompass the ability to know valid solutions to problems
and decision making. For example, the recognition primed decision (RPD) model explains how
people can make relatively fast decisions without having to compare options. Gary Klein found that
under time pressure, high stakes, and changing parameters, experts used their base of experience to
identify similar situations and intuitively choose feasible solutions. Thus, the RPD model is a blend
of intuition and analysis. The intuition is the pattern-matching process that quickly suggests
feasible courses of action. The analysis is the mental simulation, a conscious and deliberate review
of the courses of action.[31]

A lot of time instinct is misinterpreted as intuition and its reliability considered to be dependent on
past knowledge and occurrences in a specific area. For example, someone who has had more
experiences with children will tend to have a better instinct about what they should do in certain
situations with them. This is not to say that one with a great amount of experience is always going
to have an accurate intuition.[32]

Intuitive abilities were quantitatively tested at Yale University in the 1970s. While studying
nonverbal communication, researchers noted that some subjects were able to read nonverbal facial
cues before reinforcement occurred.[33] In employing a similar design, they noted that highly
intuitive subjects made decisions quickly but could not identify their rationale. Their level of
accuracy, however, did not differ from that of non intuitive subjects.[34]

Colloquial usage
Intuition, as a gut feeling based on experience, has been found to be useful for business leaders for
making judgement about people, culture and strategy.[35] Law enforcement officers often claim to
observe suspects and immediately "know" that they possess a weapon or illicit narcotic substances,
which could also be action of instincts, however, this can sometimes be considered to be
subconscious prejudice.[36] Often unable to articulate why they reacted or what prompted them at
the time of the event, they sometimes retrospectively can plot their actions based upon what had
been clear and present danger signals. Such examples liken intuition to "gut feelings" and when
viable illustrate preconscious activity.[37]

See also
Artistic Eastern Inner Intuition pump
inspiration epistemology#Faith Relationship Intuitionism
Brainstorming and Intuition Focusing Intelligence
Common sense Extra-sensory Grok analysis#Trained
Cognition perception Insight intuition
Cryptesthesia Focusing Instinct List of thought
Dj vu Intuition and processes
decision-making Medical intuitive

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Morphic Precognition
resonance Preconscious
Nous Rapport
Phenomenology Religious
(philosophy) experience
References
Notes
1. "intuition". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
2. "intuition". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
3. Aurobindo, Sri. The synthesis of yoga.
Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo ashram trust.
pp. 479480. ISBN 978-0-9415-2465-0.
Retrieved 26 December 2014.
4. Intuition and consciousness Rosenblatt AD,
Thickstun JT. Psychoanal Q. 1994
Oct;63(4):696-714.
5. Raymond DePaul, Michael; M. Ramsey,
William. "One Prevalent Misuse of Intuition".
Rethinking Intuition: The Psychology of
Intuition and Its Role in Philosophical Inquiry.
England: Rowman & littlefield publisher Inc.
p. 84. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
6. Raymond DePaul, Michael; M. Ramsey,
William. "One Prevalent Misuse of Intuition".
Rethinking Intuition: The Psychology of
Intuition and Its Role in Philosophical Inquiry.
England: Rowman & littlefield publisher Inc.
p. 84. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
7. Leaman, Oliver (2000). Eastern Philosophy:
Key Readings. London: Routledge. pp. 540.
ISBN 0-415-17357-4. Retrieved 23 December
2014.
8. Aurobindo (2005), p. 68
9. Aurobindo (2005), pp. 69-71
10. Aurobindo (2005), p. 75
11. Aurobindo (2005), p. 72
12. Aurobindo, Sri. The synthesis of yoga.
Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo ashram trust.
pp. 799800. ISBN 978-0-9415-2465-0.
Retrieved 26 December 2014.
13. Aurobindo (2005), p. 7
6 of 8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuition
Remote viewing Synchronicity
Serendipity Tacit knowledge
Social Truthiness
intuitionism Unconscious
Subconscious mind
14. osho, Bhagwan. Intuition: Knowing Beyond
Logic. New York: osho international
foundation. pp. 1020. ISBN 0-312-27567-6.
Retrieved 24 December 2014.
15. M. Indich, William. Consciousness in Advaita
Vedanta. varanasi: Motilal banarisdas. pp. 810.
ISBN 81-208-1251-4. Retrieved 24 December
2014.
16. "Buddha, by Ajahn Sumedho". Buddhism now.
17. Humphreys, Christmas. A Popular Dictionary
of Buddhism. London: Routledge.
ISBN 0-203-98616-4. Retrieved 23 December
2014.
18. Conners, Shawn. Zen Buddhism The Path to
Enlightenment. Texas: El paso trust. p. 81.
ISBN 1-934255-97-1. Retrieved 23 December
2014.
19. Lawson, Todd. Reason and Inspiration in
Islam: Theology, Philosophy and Mysticism in
Muslim Thought. London: I.B touris co ltd.
pp. 210225. ISBN 1-85043-470-0. Retrieved
26 December 2014.
20. Kalin, Ibrahim. Knowledge in Later Islamic
Philosophy: Mulla Sadra on Existence,
Intellect, and Intuition. London: Oxford
University Press. pp. 155160. Retrieved
26 December 2014.
21. "Plato: Education and the Value of Justice".
Retrieved 22 December 2014.
22. Klein, Jacob. A Commentary on Plato's Meno.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
pp. 103127. ISBN 0-226-43959-3. Retrieved
22 December 2014.
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23. L. Mursell, James. "The Function of Intuition in
Descartes' Philosophy of Science". The
Philosophical Review. 4. 28. USA: Duke
University Press. pp. 391401.
24. Hume, David. A Treatise of Human Nature:
Being an Attempt to introduce the experimental
Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects. The
Floating Press. p. 105. ISBN 9781775410676.
Retrieved 23 December 2014.
25. A. Johnson, Oliver. The Mind of David Hume:
A Companion to Book I of A Treatise of Human
Nature. The Floating Press. p. 123.
ISBN 0-252-02156-8. Retrieved 23 December
2014.
26. Kant, Immanuel. "Critique of Pure Reason".
gutenberg.org. p. 35.
27. M. Lynch "Trusting Intuitions", in P.
Greenough and M. Lynch (ed) Truth and
Realism, pp. 227-38.
28. G. Bealer "Intuition and The Autonomy of
Philosophy" in M. Depaul and W. Ramsey (eds)
Rethinking Intuition: The Psychology of
Intuition and Its Role In Philosophical Inquiry
1998, pp. 201-239.
29. Williamson, Timothy (2008) "The Philosophy
of Philosophy"
30. C.G. Jung. Psychological Types. Bollingen
Series XX, Volume 6, Princeton University
Press, 1971.
31. Klein, Gary. Intuition At Work. Random House,
NY, NY. January, 2003.
32. Eugene Sadler-Smith. Inside Intuition. 2008.
33. AJ Giannini, J Daood,MC Giannini, R
Boniface, PG Rhodes. Intellect versus
intuition--dichotomy in the reception of
nonverbal communication.Journal of General
Psychology. 99:19-24,1978.
34. AJ Giannini, ME Barringer, MC Giannini, RH
Loiselle. Lack of relationship between
handedness and intuitive and intellectual
(rationalistic) modes of information processing.
Journal of General Psychology. 111:31-37
1984.
35. "Australian Elite Leaders, Intuition and
Effectiveness". epubs.scu.edu.au.
36. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive
/2016/04/concept-creep/477939/
37. Anthony J. Pinizzotto, PhD, Edward F. Davis,
MA, and Charles E. Miller III
Emotional/rational decision making in law
enforcement (http://www.thefreelibrary.com
/Emotional%2Frational+decision+making+in+l
aw+enforcement-a0114370262) (Federal
Bureau of Investigation), Free Online Library,
2004.

Further reading

Chauran, Alexandra (2012). So You Want To Be a Psychic Intuitive. Llewellyn Worldwide.

ISBN 0-7387-3065-3.
Chopra, Deepak, and Judith Orloff. The Power of Intuition. Hay House, 2005. (Audio) ISBN
978-1-4019-0622-1
Davis, Elizabeth. Women's Intuition. Celestial Arts, 1989. ISBN 978-0-89087-572-8
Fradet, Pierre-Alexandre, Derrida-Bergson. Sur l'immdiatet, Hermann, Paris, coll.
"Hermann Philosophie", 2014. ISBN 9782705688318
Hoeflich, Christine. What Everyone Believed: A Memoir of Intuition and Awakening. Between
Worlds Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9796589-0-7
Levin, Michal. Spiritual Intelligence: Awakening the Power of Your Spirituality and Intuition.
Hodder & Stoughton, 2000. ISBN 978-0-340-73394-3
Mayer, Elizabeth Lloyd. Extraordinary Knowing: Science, Skepticism, and the Inexplicable
Powers of the Human Mind. Bantam, 2008. ISBN 978-0-553-38223-5
McTaggart, Lynn. The Intention Experiment. Free Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7432-7696-2

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Saad, Ezechiel Hasard et Intuition, French, preface by zen master Jacques Brosse. Ed. Dervy,
Pars, 1991. ISBN 2-85076-438-8
Schulz, Mona Lisa, and Christriane Northrup. Awakening Intuition. Three Rivers Press, 1999.
ISBN 978-0-609-80424-7
Wilde, Stuart Intuition. Hay House, 1996. (Audio) ISBN 978-1-4019-0674-0
Wilde, Stuart. The Sixth Sense: Including the Secrets of the Etheric Subtle Body. Hay House,
2000. ISBN 978-1-56170-501-6
Aurobindo, Sri (2005), The Life Divine, Pondicherry: Lotus press, ISBN 0-941524-61-2,
retrieved 2014 Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links
Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman on Intuition Wikiquote has
(http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates quotations related to:
/2002/kahnemann-lecture.pdf) Intuition
Ask Philosophers: Question on Intuition and Rationality
(http://www.amherst.edu/askphilosophers/question/1533)

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