Diachronic thinking is a key aspect of human cognition from "summary" of A Natural History of Human Thinking by Michael Tomasello
Diachronic thinking, the ability to think about events and entities across time, is a central feature of human cognition. This capacity allows individuals to understand how actions and events are connected through cause and effect relationships over time. Through diachronic thinking, individuals can make predictions about future outcomes based on past experiences and observations. This ability to mentally simulate different scenarios allows humans to plan for the future, solve problems, and learn from past mistakes. One key aspect of diachronic thinking is the concept of "mental time travel," which refers to the ability to mentally project oneself into the past or future. This ability is unique to humans and plays a crucial role in the development of complex forms of social cognition, such as theory of mind and empathy. By imagining oneself in another person's shoes, individuals can better understand their...
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