Reflection (philosophy)

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Reflection means a form of thoughtful and comparative thinking. Different types of reflection can be distinguished.

On the one hand, there is self-reflection, i.e. thinking about oneself or one's own behavior. The corresponding verb is reflect and stands for to ponder, think through or contemplate.

In philosophy, there have also been subject-specific uses of the concept since the 17th century, which are based on this concept and emphasize different aspects. For example, reflection on social relations or the use of language.

The central concern is the distinction between perception aimed at external objects and the kind of mental activity that reflects on the acts of thinking and representation themselves (abstraction).