Definitions HQ

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a practice through which an uncertain situation is clarified, what is at stake for those affected is determined, and its significance is assessed.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a consecutive ordering of thoughts (rather than a merely sequential ordering) such that each thought determines the next as its proper outcome while also leaning back on its predecessors, growing out of one another and supporting one another, each phase acting as a step from something to something, each term leaving a deposit which is utilized in the next term.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends [that] constitutes reflective thought.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a mode of questioning where a note of invention is present, as distinct from faithful record of observation.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠applicable to all kind of everyday thinking, anything as mundane as turning over in the mind the various options available to one to get to a meeting one is running late to.

Inquiry's (n.) function ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is to transform a situation in which there is experienced obscurity, doubt, conflict, disturbance of some sort, into a situation that is clear, coherent, settled, harmonious.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the kind of thinking that consist in turning a subject over in the mind and giving it serious and consecutive consideration.

Inquiry (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the same thing as reflective thinking, and, even more generally, thinking.