Thought Experiments

A thought experiment can include any deliberate application of the imagination with the aim of testing a theory.

Einstein used thought experiments in developing the theory of relativity - he imagined he was sitting on a photon travelling at the speed of light - and the consequences that would have for perception.

Nikola Tesla the inventor who in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries discovered and designed much of the technology that we take for granted today (accumulating over 700 patents on the way) used a sophisticated form of thought experiment. Before building a machine in his laboratory he would construct in his imagination, run it and see if it developed any problems or unanticipated effects.

You can choose to think of NLP's presuppositions as thought experiments. Also 'as if' frame statements can serve as thought experiments. You can ask what would it be like if ....

I've described a few thought experiments in the posts below. Try them out if you like, and you can write about your experiences too. If you have any thought experiments that you like then please share them...

Getting into your Skull

Knowing a cup of tea