Intuition and surprise

Purpose – This editorial seeks to address the importance of intuition and metaphor in the construction of logical systems of thought. Design/methodology/approach – Two unconventional approaches to probability theory are considered, one based upon the non-intuitive law of the excluded middle, and one based upon the notion of surprise. Findings – It is argued that formal systems based upon non-intuitive assumptions/axioms are generally less likely to be accepted by researchers. Nevertheless, it sometimes is possible to identify unconventional systems with greater intuitive appeal than their more orthodox counterparts. Originality/value – The editorial emphasizes an aspect of formal mathematical systems – intuition – that is often overlooked.