In writing the present book I have had in mind the following
objectives: - To propose a theoretical, comprehensive view of the domain
of intuition. - To identify and organize the experimental findings
related to intuition scattered in a wide variety of research contexts. -
To reveal the educational implications of the idea, developed for
science and mathematics education. Most of the existing monographs in
the field of intuition are mainly concerned with theoretical debates -
definitions, philosophical attitudes, historical considerations. (See,
especially the works of Wild (1938), of Bunge (1 962) and of Noddings
and Shore (1 984).) A notable exception is the book by Westcott (1968),
which combines theoretical analyses with the author's own experimental
studies. But, so far, no attempt has been made to identify
systematically those findings, spread throughout the research
literature, which could contribute to the deciphering of the mechanisms
of intuition. Very often the relevant studies do not refer explicitly to
intuition. Even when this term is used it occurs, usually, as a
self-evident, common sense term.