Katherine Merritt writes:
Thinking is the process in which a person searches through past memories and stored information to draw conclusions about the topic at hand. It’s amazing how the mind stores so much.
Mark DiMeglio writes:
Thinking takes no form, unless one is aware of the format of an idea. . . . Thinking is the act of cognitively re-visiting an idea, or re-forming an idea.
Like Anglo-Saxons and their “word-hords,” our task involves looking at thought as it surfaces in words which can be known, repeated, and understood. I want us to take some time to think about thinking.
Many of you think of thinking as synonymous with consciousness. However, does simple consciousness constitute thinking. For example, I am aware of the excruciatingly hard back of the chair I sit in. Does awareness equal thought?
As you work through the works we read, how do you understand the relationship of words and thought. Can thought take place without words? Can you share your thoughts without words? Can we define “thought” without discussing words and language?
sorry, this wasn't supposed to go on the other page.
ReplyDeletea thought can take place thought words. that is ridiculously obvious. your thoughts are in your mind. if i thought with words, i would never stop talking. i couldnt talk to someone because i would be thinking while i talk. you can share your thoughts without words. art for instance. or essays or actions. to answer the last question, no.
Thinking is "organized chaos" as your mind turns simple observations you gather through awareness into more complex thoughts. Thought can't take place without words because the mind composes thoughts using words, but the words do not necessarily need to be spoken. Thoughts can be shared without words, as William pointed out, through art and music. "Thought" cannot be defined without discussing words and language because words and language compose thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThinking is like a tree. The mind can process words, sound, and images, and these are the branches. Those thought are all eventually transformed into words, making this the trunk. When we speak them aloud, these become the roots. I think that the mind goes through a step by step process. We find a sound, image, word, or phrase. Then we use words to interpret that thought. No matter what we think of, our thoughts will always be transformed into spoken or written words . The only thing that can stop us from doing so is our choice to speak or write them.
ReplyDelete-Cory Bush
The purpose of thinking is to get to a solution. In order to get to the solution, you must imagine the solution before you can do it. You use your judgement and reasoning to figure out how to get to the solution. A thought is an idea or opinion that is produced by thinking. You need words in order to think because when you think, words go through your mind in order to get to the solution.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the only way to show our thoughts is through what the Anglo-Saxons would call our "word hoards". It has become a cliche but the statement that "actions speak louder than words" still rings true, and by displaying our thoughts through our actions, they become more powerful than they ever would be if they were simply spoken aloud. I also do not think that everyone thinks in words, and agree with Kelliann that thinking is "organized chaos". If thinking was only words, then those who cannot speak or understand language, like small children, would not be able to tell us what it is exactly that they are thinking.
ReplyDeleteThought in present times without doubt co-exists with the notion of cognitive activity. Yes, our brain can recognize things without even letting our conscious know. We can easily share thought through the use of body language. If Dr. Dupree finishes reading my paper before class and I come in and he's looking at me with disappointed eyes I will know something is wrong instantaneously without the modern verb of thinking. Possibly we can define thought with non-cognitive thoughts, but today and back in the times of the anglo-saxons, word-hoards and sentences are how we explain thoughts to one another even though, believe it or not, we do not talk to ourselves inside of our brain or "minds,"it is all electrical and chemically reactions... Or maybe its a hamster..... either way
ReplyDeleteThe dictionary defines thinking as using one's mind actively to form connected ideas. It is exceedingly difficult to define such a broad term. Thinking can be anything from thinking "My leg itches!" to "What is the meaning of life?" Ahhh! It is soo complex!!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking about a good post to write. If I wrote down everything that I was thinking for this blog, gosh knows what I would be writing. I am very aware that I am thinking about this. But I only realize that I am aware of it because I am thinking about how aware I should be. Therefore I don't believe that awareness and thought go together.-if that makes sense
ReplyDeleteI believe that thinking can occur both with and without words. We use words to put our thoughts into a language that others can understand, to make a decision within our mind, or simply comment to ourselves on cognitive processes. The only reason thoughts are ever put into words is so that they can be understood or grasped, however words do not always do the thought justice. This is why both drawings and sketches are useful means to express and idea. Humans are consistently thinking throughout the entire day, yet I do not find that a steady stream of words is flowing through my head. Reactions are said to occur without "thinking," but a person usually draws on past experiences or prior knowledge to determine their reaction, so how can one claim they were not "thinking." I believe that all 5 senses are used in the thought process, but all are most certainly not necessary as exemplified by Helen Keller. She was unable to see or hear and therefore unable to speak, but this woman still managed to function properly and have intellectual thoughts of her own.
ReplyDeleteThinking is a way of remembering something regardless if you want to speak on it or not. It is a way of creating words and sentences without writing them down or saying the out loud. It is a way of saying something to yourself like having a mental journal inside of you.
ReplyDeleteThinking is the process in which we explore our mind and thoughts to come up with an idea, whether it be correct or incorrect. Thinking can both be logical or illogical and can result in both horrible and great outcomes. It can be internal or external and does not have to be transcribe into words but rather images as well. All living beings with brains have the capacity to think, although the level of thinking may not be the same. We must think to respond to this blog post, but not all that we think about is written down here. Thinking will lead to the improvement and destruction of civilization....
ReplyDeleteI disagree with kevin
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that awareness and thought go together.
ReplyDeleteWords are the essence of thought, therefore without words thought is simply awareness. That is the essential difference between the two. For example one can be aware of a chair but without putting words together you cannot be thinking about the chair.
ReplyDeleteI also disagree with Kevin
ReplyDeleteThoughts all depend on our feelings. Whether we are upset, mad, happy, etc. these emotions influence our thoughts. What makes someone think of suicide? Depression does, feeling sad and alone. Each feeling we have toward something is how we think of something.
ReplyDeleteThought can exist without words. Words are only used to describe something, and thinking can exist in ideas and abstract processes. we can share thoughts without words through illustrations or pictures. We cannot define thought without words
ReplyDeletewithout thought, we are useless, we are as good as the desk that you put your coffee mug on. Thought transforms feelings, reactions into words. It is how we become articulate.
ReplyDeleteThe Anglo-Saxons believe thinking is based on the ability to express yourself through language. Like Katherine says, thinking does not need to expressed through language, a person can think within their mind without expressing it out loud.
ReplyDeletethought is how we know that one is capable of living. What might have Helen Keller been thinking during her childhood?
ReplyDeleteThought is just a a combination of brain chemistry and electrical signals in our brains that combines to create something interpreted as thought. thought cannot be described, as it is not a definite thing. It is merely a result of a physical process, and the idea of mind and thought is our perception of the results of this process. It may differ from person to person, and no one can fully understand others' thoughts, as they interpret others thoughts in the context of theirs
ReplyDeleteI believe that no one thought is individual. All thoughts branch from another, forming somewhat of a thought tree in one's mind that continues endlessly or at least until the mind perishes. These thought branches are only severed when input from another tree is received, forming a united branch that will eventually once again spread off into it's own direction. Example: I think the `color blue and blue gets me to thinking about the sky which then inclines me to remember what I did over the summer. I then start to wonder when school will end only to be reminded that tomorrow is Monday and that I must do my homework....Get it?
ReplyDeleteAll in all, no thought is random.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with what Kevin said because he believes, "Thinking will lead to the improvement and destruction of civilization," when action will actually lead to the improvement and destruction of civilization. Someone can think all they want, but unless they act upon their thought, there will be no effect.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WycL_rO5RiY&feature=player_embedded
ReplyDeletethis is an example of thinking gone wrong similar to the critical words of Unferth
thinking is a way to consider or reason about things in our world.
ReplyDeleteThinking is how we view ideas of our own and of others. It allows us to deeper analyze the mind of which the comment came from helping us see more about the person. It gives us an insight on how we differ in living styles, the daily routines we go through, and how it compares to the way you live.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Wylie and Osei. Thoughts are definitely influenced by emotions and they also branch off from one another. The branching of thoughts ties into the idea of awareness because when we are aware, we see things that trigger memories or thoughts, which then branch off into further thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThoughts are very arbitrary things. Thoughts are all based on biases and views of different people. These biases can be from religion, social class, etc. Thoughts can be individual but often are cycles. Thoughts can build upon each other and form other things like ideas. All of these arguments can be summed up to epistemology. A lot of philosophers have studied epistemology in the past but there is no consensus. Thoughts are different to different people. This part is an opinion but I prefer to look at philosophy and criticisms.
ReplyDeleteThinking is the process of accumilating ideas based on whatever your brain is thinking about at that time. Thinking is totally subjective because you think of so much at the spur of the moment and it also does not necessarily what you feel because it is all so random. Having an objective and being subjective are so hard to differentiate, because you cant control what your brain thinks about.
ReplyDeleteThinking is the use of past experiences and memories to make a decision. As Jay said, it all happens in a split second and is influenced greatly by your emotions.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we have a small Amount of control over what we think about. I think that the function that we have the most control over is if we wantto continue to think the thought that you are currently thinking about. A thought could pop into your mind and you could either ponder it more or simply acknowledge it then move on.
ReplyDelete-Cory Bush
Thinking is very hard to describe...
ReplyDeleteAwareness makes you think and your thought make you take action. You can be awareof anything around you and it makes you think about it with your control over it. You dont always describe your thought with your words but you show your thoughts with your actions.
ReplyDeleteThinking Is like what Wylie said, it depends on you mood and your state of being. Because of this our emotions influence what we think which influences our actions. Without thinking we wouldn't be anywhere because there is nothing to drive us to act in anyway.
ReplyDeleteThinking is focusing, contemplating. More than that, it is one thought occupying every cavity of your mind. It is an attempt to recall something already processed, or perhaps an effort to conjure something new.
ReplyDeletei too disagree with kevin
ReplyDeletei get it
ReplyDeleteThinking is the process when your mind looks back into different areas of the brain to find information, and to piece said information into new things.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a difference between recognition and thinking. Of course you recognize that a chair has a hard back, but you are not THINKING about it. Recognition is subconscious, to think is to be conscious. Thinking is all about analyzation. When you are thinking, you are searching for something. Perhaps it's searching for a solution or maybe it's just searching for an idea long forgotten. Simply because the acts of awareness, remembrance, or storage are preformed by one's brain, does NOT make them the practice of thinking. If you aren't searching for anything, you can't be thinking.
ReplyDelete