Availability of Functions: A Discussion of Some Theoretical Aspects

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Abstract
The article is a discussion of the writer's approch to problem-solving in terms of “availability of functions”. By way of introduction what are thought to be two fundamental weaknesses in the Gestalt theoretical framework to the study of “thinking” are pointed out. The first of these weaknesses refers to the difficulty of adequately defining the term “cognitive structure”. The other refers to the inadequate treatment by the Gestalt psychologists of the role played by past experience in problem-solving. A discussion is then presented of how the approach in terms of “availability of functions” might make possible a better treatment of the weak points in Gestalt psychology of “thinking”. At the end a criticism raised by Székely of the approach in terms of “availability of functions” is considered. It is argued that Székely's critical article as well as his own experimental reports reveal the weaknesses of the Gestalt school, in the way previously pointed out. Apparent differences between experimental results of Székely and the writer are then discussed.

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