thought experiment

Meaning

A thought experiment is a hypothetical scenario used to explore the potential consequences of a theory, principle, or decision. Instead of conducting a physical test, you analyze the situation mentally to understand its logical outcomes. It is commonly used in philosophy, physics, and decision-making.

Examples

• Schrödinger's cat is perhaps the most famous thought experiment in modern physics.

  Schrödinger's cat is perhaps the most famous thought experiment in modern physics.

• Before we write the code, let's run a quick thought experiment to see where this logic might fail.

  Before we write the code, let's run a quick thought experiment to see where this logic might fail.

• The philosopher proposed a thought experiment to challenge our traditional views on morality.

  The philosopher proposed a thought experiment to challenge our traditional views on morality.

• As a thought experiment, imagine a world where resources are completely unlimited.

  As a thought experiment, imagine a world where resources are completely unlimited.

• We can use this thought experiment to predict how customers might react to the price change.

  We can use this thought experiment to predict how customers might react to the price change.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Let's make a thought experiment to test this theory.

  ✓ Let's do/run a thought experiment to test this theory.

  We use the verbs 'do', 'run', 'conduct', or 'perform' with 'thought experiment', not 'make'.

• ✗ He proposed an interesting thinking experiment.

  ✓ He proposed an interesting thought experiment.

  The standard collocation is 'thought experiment', using the noun form 'thought' as a modifier, not the gerund 'thinking'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To understand the ethical dilemma, the professor asked us to consider a simple ___.

  💡 A mental exercise used to investigate a concept.

  Show answer

  thought experiment

• Let's run a ___: what would happen if our main server went offline for a week?

  💡 An imaginary test or scenario.

  Show answer

  thought experiment