ABSTRACT
It has become evident since the disclosure of the long-hidden process of the natural production of inferences that the psychological discussion of this process cannot begin with a discussion of the syllogism. The syllogism is an artificial product and demands a very penetrative study and refined introspection in order to solve the psychological puzzles hidden within it. Only one thing is readily manifest to us, namely, what an inference has to achieve in order to make new knowledge accessible out of already existing knowledge without the assistance of perception. The direction for experimental investigation to take is thus indicated. Let us have a subject obtain new insights from previously obtained knowledge in as unrestricted a manner as possible. Various tasks must be tried out. All purely reproductive processes emerging from the fullness of experience must be excluded, until finally we are able to uncover the heart of the process, entirely buried under the images and feelings. The following facts then become apparent:
