Dewey discusses more in depth about the growth and overall nature of thinking and how sometimes problems can emerge during this process. The process of thinking involves five logically distinguished steps that come about while analyzing based upon reflective experiences. Dewey begins by stating how the first two steps blend into one step. The first step is a felt difficulty. The second step is its location and definition. This difficultly comes from the mind analyzing a solution to a problem creating uneasiness which eventually leads into trying to figure out a situation. The third step is suggestion of possible solution. As Dewey says, this is the core of inference which requires “going from what is present to something absent.” (Dewey, 42) The fourth step is development by reasoning of the bearings of the suggestion. This involves the process of developing the inference of possibilities in addition with problem in mind. The fifth step is further observation and experiment leading to its acceptance or rejection; that is, the conclusion of belief or disbelief. This last step verifies the hypothetical idea.
An example where I have used this approach would be between my classes. On Tuesdays I have a class that ends at four. I have another class that starts at five. This gives me an hour to figure out how I will get food and eat before my second class begins. I had some options to consider: go through a drive through and get a snack, go home and get a snack, or go to my car and eat the one granola bar I have. There were positive and negatives that came within each of these possibilities. I reflected on experiences and analyzed each situation to figure out the consequences I would come to. When I was done analyzing each situation through the steps I came up with a conclusion.
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