Beyond Abilities: A Dispositional Theory of Thinking

Abstract

Most views of good thinking and its development hold that good thinking depends on general and specific abilities. A theory of good thinking based on the concept of dispositions is proposed here. Dispositions are often considered to be a matter of motivation. However, defined here is an expanded concept called triadic disposi tions which emphasizes (a) inclinations, which may reflect motivation, habit, policy, or other factors; (b) sensitivity to occasion; and (c) abilities themselves. Advanced is a list of seven general dispositions that are argued to be collectively sufficient and individually necessary for a general characterization of good thinking. For example, these include the disposition to be broad and adventurous, the disposition toward sustained intellectual curiosity, and the disposition to be metacognitive. Finally, it is argued that a dispositional perspective on good thinking is a generative way of approaching issues concerning theories of thinking, the generality of thinking abili ties, conceptual development, culture, and education.