mentalhypothetical

Mentalhypothetical is a term used in philosophy of mind and cognitive science to describe the mental act of constructing, evaluating, and manipulating hypothetical scenarios within the mind. As a coined compound, it refers to the internal generation of alternatives, counterfactuals, or imagined futures without external input. The term is not universally standardized but is sometimes employed to distinguish internal, self-generated hypotheticals from externally presented or narrative hypotheticals.

In practice, mentalhypothetical overlaps with concepts such as mental simulation, counterfactual thinking, and mental imagery. It emphasizes the process of creating a hypothetical state with specific variables and then reasoning about the consequences or truth conditions of that state. It can involve predictions, planning, or philosophical analysis.

Cognitive mechanisms involved include working memory, attention, episodic and semantic memory, and executive control. Individuals may manipulate spatial, temporal, or causal relations within the hypothetical scenario, drawing on probabilistic reasoning to evaluate likelihoods and outcomes.

Applications include philosophical argumentation about possibility and necessity, studies of reasoning and decision making in psychology, and models of planning in artificial intelligence. Researchers may use behavioral tasks, verbal reports, and neuroimaging to study mentalhypothetical processing.

Critiques note that the lack of a precise, widely accepted definition makes empirical study challenging. Others argue that distinguishing mentalhypothetical activity from related processes requires careful task design. Proponents suggest it clarifies discussions of inner thought and supports analyses of creativity, risk assessment, and ethical reasoning.