autonomous thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"autonomous thought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a type of thinking or decision-making that is independent and self-governing, not influenced by outside factors. Example: "The philosopher believed in the power of autonomous thought, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and individual reasoning over societal norms and beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

President Kingman Brewster helped create an environment that nurtured such autonomous thought and speech.

The New York Times - Books

It gets very earnest about a teenager's poetry and very pompous about a writer's need for "autonomous thought".

Independent

As a result, they may be (locally or temporally) unable to exercise their capacity for autonomous thought and action.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In making the connection between autonomous personhood and the privacy of thought in this way, we needn't rely on a Cartesian view of the mind.

The New York Times

Thoughts that are normally autonomous and strictly under the individuals control are experienced as influenced by the environment (thought insertion and withdrawal) and unconfined to the individual (thought broadcast [45], [58]).

Plosone

The trajectory of Barthes's career and the pliability of his concepts reveal a man who wasn't afraid to let his thoughts germinate and become autonomous from their grower.

The New Yorker

Scharre does a superb job covering the ground of the various schools of thought around the ethics of autonomous warfare, and how they intersect and compete.

TechCrunch

This invites certain questions: These doctrines plausibly break with an Enlightenment assumption that thought and meaning are in principle autonomous of whatever material, perceptible expressions they may happen to receive.

SEP

I thought we were an autonomous collective".

The New Yorker

If an autonomous individual loses his capacity for autonomy altogether — the thought then goes — he may have some local (possibly merely illusory) interests associated with the non-autonomous self, but his affairs ought to be conducted in accordance with his earlier wishes expressive of his autonomy.

SEP

Following this line of thought, we hypothesized that when students feel autonomous (from the tutor and the team members) they would display more cognitive engagement with the task.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "autonomous thought" to emphasize the independent and self-directed nature of someone's reasoning or intellectual process. It's particularly effective when contrasting it with externally influenced or conformist thinking.

Common error

Avoid using "autonomous thought" when you actually mean independent action or behavior. "Autonomous thought" refers specifically to the thinking process, not necessarily the resulting actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "autonomous thought" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "autonomous" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "thought". It describes the quality of thought being independent and self-governed. Ludwig examples highlight its use in academic and philosophical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Science

33.33%

Encyclopedias

33.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "autonomous thought" is a phrase used to describe independent and self-directed reasoning. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, although relatively rare in usage. It appears in academic, news, and philosophical contexts, emphasizing the importance of individual reasoning. When writing, it's crucial to differentiate it from independent action. While sources show limited usage, Ludwig confirms its validity and appropriate use for emphasizing independent thought processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

independent thinking

Focuses on the freedom from external influence in the thought process.

self-directed reasoning

Emphasizes the internal control and guidance of the reasoning process.

original thought

Highlights the novelty and uniqueness of the ideas generated.

critical thinking

Stresses the analytical and evaluative aspects of thought.

self-reliant cognition

Focuses on the ability to think and understand without external support.

uninfluenced intellect

Highlights the lack of external impact on one's mental faculties.

sovereign reasoning

Emphasizes the supreme and independent authority of one's reasoning.

free-thinking

Highlights the freedom from dogma and convention in thought.

individual judgment

Focuses on the personal and independent assessment of situations.

self-governed ideation

Emphasizes internal control over the generation of ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "autonomous thought" in a sentence?

You can use "autonomous thought" to describe someone's capacity for independent and self-directed reasoning. For example, "President Kingman Brewster helped create an environment that nurtured such "autonomous thought" and speech."

What's a simpler way to say "autonomous thought"?

Alternatives include "independent thinking", "self-directed reasoning", or "original thought", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "autonomous thought" the same as "critical thinking"?

While related, "autonomous thought" emphasizes the independence and self-direction of thinking, while "critical thinking" focuses on the analytical and evaluative aspects. Autonomous thought can involve critical thinking, but it's not exclusively defined by it.

In what contexts is "autonomous thought" most relevant?

The term "autonomous thought" is particularly relevant in discussions about education, philosophy, and psychology, where the development and expression of independent reasoning are key topics. It also appears in discussions on AI and machine learning.