Introduction

The introduction presents the psychorhetorical approach to the study of thought, which conceives language and thought as a unitary interpretative activity. This perspective emphasizes an interpretative function cross-cutting also perception, that operates across conscious and unconscious layers, processing explicit and implicit content, presuppositions, and beliefs, always informed by relevance. The book explores this framework through deductive and probabilistic reasoning, decision making, insight problem solving, and the efficacy of public communication. Across these domains, it examines the role of communicative heuristics, the contribution of unconscious analytic processes, and the interaction of intuitive and analytic thinking. The analysis challenges views of the mind derived from extra-psychological disciplines, proposing instead a conception of rationality grounded in contextualization and the capacity to navigate complexity. Central to this account is the resolution of an enduring paradox in the psychology of thought: reasoning and decision making often appear biased and fallible, while problem-solving reveals creativity and innovation. By reconsidering these divergent traditions together, the introduction outlines a more integrated cognitive framework in which the interpretative function unites the rational, the intuitive, and the creative dimensions of human thought.