How do you go from a concrete object like a basketball to an abstract idea like a circle? Why do you see the one and think about the other? What makes this kind of thing useful? Abstract thinking allows us to identify patterns and see common features. Once we abstract away the differences, we can group the similarities to come up with a new idea all its own. In just a few spare minutes, let's take a tour of the skills involved in this thought process and consider some practical applications. Text + video version: http://www.nativlang.com/logic/thinking-abstract.php Music by nativlang