Gondolatkör

Gondolatkör is a Hungarian noun that denotes a cluster or circle of thoughts around a particular subject. It can refer to a cognitive pattern, a framework of considerations, or a set of beliefs and questions that a person repeatedly brings to bear on a topic. The term blends gondolat (thought) with kör (circle), underscoring the idea of ideas that revolve around each other.

In usage, gondolatkör appears both in everyday language and in academic discourse, including psychology, philosophy, rhetoric, and cognitive science. It can describe a structured approach to analyzing problems, where related themes, questions, and preconceptions guide reasoning. At the same time, it can signal a restricted or repetitive line of thought, sometimes leading to a closed loop or bias if new information is ignored.

The term is often employed to discuss problem-solving, argumentation, and creative thinking, highlighting how a person’s mental set or habitual pattern of thinking shapes conclusions and options. It is distinct from gondolkodás, the general act of thinking, and from gondolattartalom, the content of thoughts. Depending on context, a gondolatkör may be viewed as a useful heuristic that organizes complex information, or as a cognitive trap that limits openness to alternatives.