How do you think?

The question was asked first on LinkedIn where other answers can be found. My answer was:

“Dear Lionel, Excellent question!

You are right: not everyone thinks in the same ways. Consider how professionals from different fields approach problems and you understand what I mean.

"Thinking" is what we do as human beings using our brains and minds, but also our entire bodies, our emotions, our actions, etc. Because we are human, we start our thinking with our senses. Seeing is thinking, hearing is thinking, touching is thinking, smelling is thinking, tasting is thinking.

But also, because we are human, we think mathematically, scientifically, and common-sensically. We think ideally, conceptually, hypothetically, prejudicially, in words, patterns, pictures, sounds, tastes, touches.

We think in dreams, in visions, in prayers.

As subjects we think of objects and by self-reflection we think of ourselves as objects.

We think of other subjects as well. Thus we know about "things" and "persons" via our thinking about them.

We think in terms of space and time, but also in terms of infinity, eternity, and aeviternity.

When we make judgments, we think hypothetically.

When we make decisions, we think willfully.

When we address levels of metaphysical issues, we think philosophically.

When we address levels of theological issues, we think faithfully.

When I hear people quote Rene Descartes, the so-called father of modern philosophy, saying "I think; therefore I am," I realize they are trying to emphasize their certain starting points for their points of view and opinions. However, I think he got it backwards. I prefer to say it this way: "I am; therefore, I think, laugh, live, love, etc."

As humans, barring disabilities, we have all the same ways to think.

We may think at different levels and about different things, in different times and different spaces.

We may communicate what we think about differently.

But, if we don't communicate to each other, as you have asked in your question, we can't always read each other.

We want to think and speak truthfully.

By your learning a little more about how each of us think, we all learn more about each other.

So thanks for your question that opens up the very thoughtful answers you are evoking in this discussion.

I have found "Insight: A Study of Human Understanding" by Bernard J. F. Lonergan; "Divine Madness": Plato's Case Against Secular Humanism by Josef Pieper; and The Unity of Philosophical Experience by Etienne Gilson, especially helpful in discussing the values, missions, purposes and visions of thinking.

From a writer's perspective, I also have learned that we humans like to think in stories. See for example Lincoln Stories for Leaders: Influencing Others through Storytelling by Donald T. Phillips.”


What do you think?

Please include your comment here or contact me to discuss.

Thanks.

John Darrouzet