Editing Introspection (section)

{{Short description|Examining one's own thoughts and feelings}}
{{About|the psychological process|other uses}}

'''Introspection''' is the examination of one's own [[Consciousness|conscious]] [[thought]]s and [[feeling]]s.<ref name=Schultz>{{cite book | first=D. P. | last=Schultz |author2=Schultz, S. E. | title= A history of modern psychology (10th ed.) | year=2012| publisher= Wadsworth, Cengage Learning | isbn=978-1-133-31624-4 | location= Belmont, CA | pages= 67–77, 88–100}}</ref> In [[psychology]], the process of introspection relies on the observation of one's [[Mental representation|mental state]], while in a [[Spirituality|spiritual]] context it may refer to the examination of one's [[soul]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=psychology {{!}} Origin and meaning of psychology by Online Etymology Dictionary|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/psychology|access-date=2020-09-05|website=www.etymonline.com|language=en}}</ref> Introspection is closely related to [[human self-reflection]] and [[self-discovery]] and is contrasted with [[observation|external observation]].

It generally provides a privileged access to one's own mental states,<ref name=Seager>{{cite journal|title= Encyclopedia of Consciousness|pages= 187–199|doi= 10.1016/B978-012373873-8.00071-2|date= January 2009}}</ref> not mediated by other sources of knowledge, so that individual experience of the mind is unique. Introspection can determine any number of mental states including: sensory, bodily, cognitive, emotional and so forth.<ref name=Seager/>

Introspection has been a subject of philosophical discussion for thousands of years. The [[philosopher]] [[Plato]] asked, "...why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly examine and see what these appearances in us really are?"<ref>''[[Theaetetus (dialogue)|Theaetetus]]'', 155.</ref><ref>J. Perner et al. (2007). "''Introspection & remembering''", Synthese, Springer.</ref> While introspection is applicable to many facets of philosophical thought it is perhaps best known for its role in [[epistemology]]; in this context introspection is often compared with [[perception]], [[reason]], [[memory]], and [[testimony]] as a source of [[knowledge]].<ref>Epistemology. (2005). In ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology/#SOU.</ref>