I’d have to reread to have a strong opinion, but Sheckley at least has a lot about how thought works. Example: the short story about being stuck in a spaceship with a replicator which refuses to repeat itself. It’s a comic story (iirc, they need six copies of something to get the spaceship to work properly, and the only source of food is the recalcitrant replicator), but it’s got something to say about how categories work.
I distantly remember that… I don’t suppose you happen to recall the name of the story? If Sheckley has been teaching “how to think” then I really should read to find out how one of my favorite authors does it.
I’d have to reread to have a strong opinion, but Sheckley at least has a lot about how thought works. Example: the short story about being stuck in a spaceship with a replicator which refuses to repeat itself. It’s a comic story (iirc, they need six copies of something to get the spaceship to work properly, and the only source of food is the recalcitrant replicator), but it’s got something to say about how categories work.
I distantly remember that… I don’t suppose you happen to recall the name of the story? If Sheckley has been teaching “how to think” then I really should read to find out how one of my favorite authors does it.
I’m heading out for the weekend, but if there isn’t a definitive answer by the time I’m back, I’ll look into it.
There’s also a very cool story about a man who tries to get computerized therapy, but the program is optimized for treating aliens.
I want to say it’s The Necessary Thing.