I've never encountered a clear description of what cognitive functions are, but only a vague illustration of how functions manifest themselves within the person/external reality.. Even Jung's description fails to give a definite and clear connotation of what functions are. So, in this page I shall attempt to give a clearer concept of how this problem can be approached.
First, There can never be a clear meta definition of what cognitive functions are. and that is for same reason that the finite can't comprehend the infinite, and no mind can jump above itself.
Second, Even the most meticulous philosophical schools will fail to capture the wholeness of these functions and give an all encompassing idea of what they really are. but instead, you will see the opposite. you will find schools of thought being assigned and correlated to a certain function.
The only way forward for the sane person is not to concentrate on the self and others to try to break every bit of detail and map that into the infinite complexity of the mind. because we can only try to approach the infinite. but, never actually grasp the whole of it.
Cognitive functions are like a projection. Through sense perception, they reflect back into the mind's eye what reality is. i.e. Metabolism.
"Perception contains interior and exterior modalities. You can cut open someone’s brain, track the neurons firing when they think about a cat, but which is real, the neurons firing or the thought about the cat? It depends on who you ask. The problem arises when one assumes that our thoughts and behavior are controlled by the physical assortment of neurons firing. It implies that our minds are not autonomous and that we lack free will. Wilber states that both the interior and exterior modes of consciousness are not only equally real but reflections of one another."
Every man is an island. Having this or that function, as a lead function, does not mean the absence of other cognitive content. But instead, it means one or more functions will have a transcendental effect that will render the wielder with an unconscious motivation which will bewilder, posses and guide them to act and think according to values of these functions. Every person have access to all functions.
Nothing is 100% right or wrong. they merely vary in their degree of incompleteness and dysfunction. All knowledge is a work in progress.
To be continued....