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About Thinking

Of all the many things humans do every day, THINKING is a persistent activity.Ā Most people never stop thinking all day long, every minute, every second. There is almost no action, exercise, or moment where thinking is not an indispensable component. Humans are addicted to thinking.Ā 

They cannot stop—one thought followed by the next. Thinking is compulsive.Ā ā€˜I Think Therefore I Am’ says the philosopher Descartes.Ā Humans cannot stop thinking; they are slaves to thinking—one thought followed by the next. Thinking is compulsive.Ā ‘I Think; Therefore I Am’Ā says the philosopher Descartes. If Descartes’ proposition is true, then the opposite also has to be true. ‘I DO NOT Think; therefore I Am Not’—many schools of Buddhism state all experience manifests through the mind, i.e. thinking. Completely stopping the process of thinking may not be possible nor necessary. However, disengaging from this process is possible and desirable.

The most brilliant minds of all time have injected aĀ lot of thinking effortĀ into explaining the process of thinking. Yet, there is no consensus of how thought works or even how it can be defined. Science suggests that thinking may be an electrochemical process by which neurons transmit information in the nervous system. Philosophers say something else. There is no agreement when it comes to thinking and the mind.

Whatever ā€˜thinking’ actually is, we can be sure about it:Ā thinking leads to more thinking. One thought generates the next, ultimately creating extensive thought structures. These can be beneficial or harmful to the human situation.Ā 

The human ability to create profound mental systems is astonishing and has brought many benefits. On the downside, understanding all of these complexities and connections is beyond an individual’s mind. Knowledge is the manifestation of thinking, and it dissolves into infinite divisions and fragments that, in the end, can only be comprehended byĀ specialists. These experts may understand their field of expertise yet may not have a clue about the bigger picture. The time of theĀ Renaissance Person,Ā who knew everything that there was to know, is long gone.

For an ordinary person, it is impossible to understand and follow these complexities. Many people feel left out and uneasy. It is self-evident that the immense global thinking effort has failed to make the world happier, more peaceful, or safer.Ā 

How Philosophy Approaches Knowledge
Convergent Thinking
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Lateral Thinking
Lateral Thinking
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Thinker's Quotations
Shakespeare
Descartes
Isaak Newton
Einstein
Lao Tzu
Dostoyevsky
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Convergent Thinking

Convergent Thinking

Convergent thinking uses logic and reason to come up with a single problem solving answer. Facts are gathered and condensed into a central solution. Issues are either false or true, are compared, ranked and contrasted. Traditional intelligent tests usually measure convergent testing.

Divergent Thinking

Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking starts with a question and creatively explores many possibilities in a free-flowing, non-linear, spontaneous way. Ideas are created and their possibilities are explored. Once the gathering process has been completes, the ideas are organised and structured using the logic of convergent thinking.

Lateral Thinking

Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking combines the divergent and convergent thinking to generate unexpected , non-obvious solutions. It turns conventionalĀ  thinking processes upside down. Imagination and creativity are central to lateral thinking.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is intellect driven and looks for truthful values as well as hidden errors. Critical thinking skills include reasoning, problem solving, evaluating, decision making and analyzing.