Formalization of the cognitive process using the basis of models

All human mental activity is a modeling of its external and internal world and is based on the application of models. The cognitive and constructive activity of man can’t be imagined through the immense variety of particular models he uses. The paper proposes the structural, functional and operational components inherent in different degrees of any solvable model. The universality of the components is explained by their belonging to the model of the predicate language of the first order, which is the basis of any mathematical models. These basic properties of the model are used to describe the model of knowledge acquired by a person in the process of understanding the surrounding and internal environment. The cognitive process itself is also carried out with the use of models called models of instrumental knowledge. As a basic model of the cognitive process, the "pyramid of cognition" of Ackoff is adopted. The concepts used in it are defined. Each stage of the formation of a model of new knowledge and the instrumental knowledge used to acquire it is described using basic models, which allows us to represent the cognitive process in terms of modeling.