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Epistemology & Ontology

F-03 Bayesian Epistemology: Probability as degree of belief and epistemic uncertainty, not objective frequency in the world
F-19 Critical Realism: Reality exists in stratified layers independent of our knowledge of it
F-22 Neurath's Boat: We cannot rebuild our ship from scratch. We can only repair it plank by plank while afloat
F-20 Residual Reality: Reality is always larger than any representation we construct of it

F-01 Explanatory Depth: Good explanations cite difference-making causes at the right level of abstraction
F-07 Hard to Vary Explanation: Explanations that cannot be easily modified to account for anything

F-21 Immersion Abstraction Loop: Earn your abstractions: immerse until proposals are warranted, not just compatible
F-09 Inventor's Paradox: Solving more general problems often yields more specific solutions
F-14 OODA Loop: Iterative decision-making cycle through observing, orienting, deciding, and acting
F-12 Pólya's Problem-Solving: Structured approach to problem-solving through understanding, planning, executing, and reflecting
F-16 Social Science Paradox: Deep investigation of specific cases enables broader generalizable claims

F-06 Functionalism: Mental states are defined by their functional roles, not their physical implementation
F-08 Intentionality: Mental states are about or directed toward objects and states of affairs
F-17 Strange Loop: Self-reference and hierarchical feedback loops that give rise to consciousness and selfhood

F-10 Methodological Holism: Social wholes have properties not reducible to or predictable from individual parts
F-11 Methodological Individualism: Social phenomena must be explained by the actions and interactions of individuals
F-15 Social Facts: Social phenomena that exist independently of individuals and constrain their behavior
F-18 Thick Description: Rich interpretive description that captures cultural meaning and context, not just observable behavior

F-02 Computationalism: Cognition as symbolic computation over mental representations in the brain
F-04 Embodied Cognition: Cognition is shaped by the body and its sensorimotor interactions with the environment
F-05 Extended Mind: Cognitive processes extend beyond the brain into the body and environment
F-13 Predictive Processing: The brain as a prediction machine that minimizes surprise through hierarchical inference