What is Thinking: Definition and 397 Discussions

Thought (or thinking) encompasses a flow of ideas and associations that can lead to logical conclusions. Although thinking is an activity of an existential value for humans, there is still no consensus as to how it is adequately defined or understood.
Because thought underlies many human actions and interactions, understanding its physical and metaphysical origins and its effects has been a longstanding goal of many academic disciplines including philosophy, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, biology, sociology and cognitive science.
Thinking allows humans to make sense of, interpret, represent or model the world they experience, and to make predictions about that world. It is therefore helpful to an organism with needs, objectives, and desires as it makes plans or otherwise attempts to accomplish those goals.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. L

    Just finished with my 4-year B.Sc. program now thinking engineering

    and there really isn't anything particularly exciting about it! I am not sure where I am going next year despite the fact that i got accepted into some master programs...madly expensive and no job demands. they're mostly masters program in publich health. one of them is at Columbia - was pumped...
  2. W

    Thinking of becoming an astronomer

    Hello all. My name is Stew. As the title says, I'm contemplating becoming an astronomer. I'm 23 and spent the last five years in the Navy. I'm out now and want to go to college. (I'm currently stuck in the field I had in the military because I have no other skill sets that will get me a job)...
  3. E

    Courses Thinking of Ph.D need advice on my desired courses

    Hello everyone, I'm Eric and I'm looking at Ph.D programs. Looking at MITs page (my dream school) I jotted down the classes I'd want. My questions are: 1.Is my list thorough enough?too thorough? 2.How many years will they take? 3.Dissertation ideas? The classes: Quantum Theory I+II...
  4. M

    Is the sequence {n} convergent? (I'm thinking that it is not)

    Homework Statement Is the sequence {n} convergent? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I believe that it is not convergent. I'm thinking that I could show this by a Proof by contradiction, but I am not certain. Am I going down the right route? Thanks.
  5. C

    Programs I would like advice from physics majors please Thinking of changing major

    I'm a math/chemistry major and thinking of changing to physics after a few classes and research experiences in physical chemistry I've had. I would like to know what it's like, what to expect, etc... How is the undergraduate research at your institutions and what do you normally do in the...
  6. B

    Is a College Degree Necessary for Success in Programming?

    Hi physicsforums, I'm a CS student in my first year. I enjoy programming and have liked my intro CS classes. However, I'm pretty depressed with the rest of college. I feel like I'm spending a lot of time reading through literary theory, rote memorizing humanities definitions, or memorizing...
  7. rhody

    Pinterest will you ? I am seriously thinking about it

    Is Pinterest the next Facebook ? CNN Money Article: March 22, 2012 Those who know me, know where I am going next now, don't you... hehe... Gorgeous Hot Pepper Photos... Rhody...
  8. Z

    Thinking of transferring (Mech. Eng.)

    I am currently a mechanical engineering student at a Canadian university and what I have experienced thus far is leaving a sour taste in my mouth. A year and a half in and the only lab I have is mechanical drawing, however, we don't even get to enjoy taking apart the objects we are drawing--we...
  9. B

    Understanding of Entropy. Been thinking about it for 2 days and couldn't understand

    Hi, My name is Brad and I am a graduate electrical engineering student. Recently I wanted to go back and review and patch some holes in my head about fundamentals of physics. Therefore, I went back to my textbook Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics by Serwey and Jewett...
  10. C

    A perpetual machine model that sets me thinking

    Now I'm not a PMI (perpetual machine inventor). In fact I'm quite convinced that there is no such thing as that. But a while ago, I saw the schematics of a perpetual machine that is hard to debate. Well this is how the machine worked. The inventor argued that if you have two magnets as...
  11. L

    How Can I Stop Thinking About Someone Who's Unavailable?

    I need help with getting a girl out of my head. We worked together on a project at school and spent a lot of time together. She's extremely nice and she's pretty and I would want nothing more than to be with her. I have no idea how she feels about me, but it doesn't matter. She has a boyfriend...
  12. C

    Programs Is Industrial Design the Right Major for Me?

    I am studying supply chain management and I am really starting to feel like I have no desire to enter the bureaucratic nonsense involved with the corporate workforce. I decided to go into supply chain because it seemed more interesting than management. I also did it because it pays well and...
  13. K

    Thinking about one directional nature of time

    Hi all, I am from electronics background, yet I have studied quantum mechanics. Lately I have been reading Prigogine I., "From being to becoming". (If I am correct) the book deals with the one directional nature of time as it flows from past to present and onwards to future. But I did not get...
  14. M

    Thinking about applying for an internship

    Hey all, I am currently on a 3/2 degree program for physics and engineering, where I'll spend 3 years at one school, transfer for an additional 2 years and graduate with an engineering degree from the second school and a physics degree from the first school. So I decided I need to start...
  15. 8

    Thinking about switching from M.E. to Ch.E.

    I've been working on my 2 year transfer degree at the local community college in order to head to a 4 year for mechanical engineering. After a few chem classes (which are req'd for ME anyway), I find it really fascinating and kind of fun. I've started toying with the idea of switching to a...
  16. Drakkith

    I've been thinking about getting into something in Optics, but I don't

    I've been thinking about getting into something in Optics, but I don't know anything about the different courses and such. Anyone here have any suggestions or know a good source of info on getting into optics?
  17. M

    What is the relationship between Earth's kinetic energy and a falling object?

    About my thinking ! Kenetic E" last week i am thinking about the kenetic energy of the Earth compared with the object that falling down . I assume that it may be equal to 0 or ∞ but no why ?? How about you for this case ?
  18. N

    Can a Grasshopper Reach Infinite Points on a Number Line?

    Homework Statement 1. A grasshopper sitting on the number line can jump p or q inches right or left. Find all points on the line the grasshopper can reach starting from the origin (i.e. at zero). 2.Say exactly eight people show up to your birthday party, where there are two types of...
  19. S

    I was thinking about a rod colliding with an external wall, if you

    I was thinking about a rod colliding with an external wall, if you will, and began thinking what would happen if the collision was elastic (not sure if that is correct in this context, but simply the energy of the rod is the same before and after the collision.) I assume if a particle was normal...
  20. T

    Engineering Thinking of a degree in nuclear engineering or health physics

    what does health physics entail? I am interested in either nuclear engineering or Health physics but would like to get more detail on what it is that they actually do? Anybody know and want to help out?
  21. K

    So I was thinking before about what I'm going to do in life

    It might just be finals getting to me, but what else can I do with a Bio degree besides med school and teach (which I don't really want to do)? I was thinking about it and it seems like a Chem or Biochem degree is way more valuable to industry? I'm sure (hoping) it's not true and I think I'm...
  22. 1

    Am I wrong? Is this correct thinking? Am I weird? Am I crazy?

    http://www.teacherschoice.com.au/maths_library/area%20and%20sa/area_2.htm "NOTE: The value of p can never be known exactly, so surface areas of spheres cannot be calculated exactly." p = pi here. It always irks when people say "(insert irrational constant here) doesn't have an exact...
  23. H

    Programs Geology major, thinking of going for MS geophysics, advice?

    I am currently in my third year of my geology degree which I am enjoying but I love physics too. I don't really want to be strictly a geologist after I graduate, more like a geophysicist as I've taken an interest in seismology after narrowly surviving the 2011 Christchurch quake while in New...
  24. F

    Momentum intuition, had me thinking last night

    I came up with last night and I couldn't figure it out. Can you actually predict what happens in a collision? For instance, suppose a truck and a toy duck is coming from opposite ends, they both have a velocity, now suppose they crash, it should be obvious that the collison isn't going to...
  25. J

    Scaling Augmented Matrices: Is My Thinking Correct?

    An augmented matrix scaled by a number also means the solutions set is scaled by that same number. I believe this is true due to it basically being the same as elementary row operations preformed on each row. Unless it is a zero scalar in which case you lose all conditions. Is my method of...
  26. J

    Thinking of getting a degree in nuclear engineering.

    Hello everyone, I'm thinking of getting in the the nuclear engineer field. I want to know if getting a degree in electrical or mechanical engineering first would help? I want to get a degree in one of these two first, but I don't know which one would transition better for nuclear...
  27. P

    Programs Thinking of changing by degree to physics

    Im a first year student at university, and I've been thinking about this for a couple of months now but I am still not sure if i want to do it. I absolutely love physics, the theory and its practicality so switching shouldn't be a hard choice for me. Thing is that i want to attempt to get into...
  28. M

    (QUESTION I was Thinking of Creating a Generator System

    (QUESTION:) I was Thinking of Creating a Generator System... Okay, so I've been thinking about creating a generator system that doesn't reply on a Ful powered engine and to eventually get off of the "grid' completely one day... Also, in the last 4.5 years since we've moved into this house...
  29. R

    What type job/field would be what I'm thinking of?

    I am doing my gcses and have to decide what A levels I want to do, which of course involves deciding what university course I would be aiming for(oh god the pun in there is terrible, lol) I enjoy and would like to do the following subjects for A level, Maths, w/ Further Maths if possible...
  30. S

    Programs EE student thinking about changing major

    So i stared as Comp Sci major about 3 year ago, very quickly changed to EE since i got interested in robotics and stuff like that. Since then i been playing with electronics, doing a lot of robotics work and i really like it... and i think its a hobbie that matches with me 100%. But now that I...
  31. T

    Abstractly thinking outside the box

    I have very little background in physics and I only have basic calculus under my belt... but I can't seem to get this thought out of my head. There is no mathematical proofs here, no experimental evidence, not even any real evidence for theory, however I'd like to hear your thoughts on the...
  32. R

    A Career in the Space Industry - Is it wishful thinking?

    Hi all, I'm new here and wanting some advice and this forum came up top in Google when I was hunting around for advice with regards to working in the Space industry. I'm 34, dropped out of university when I was 19 in the first year (was doing a Physics with Laser Application course at...
  33. C

    Physics Thinking of going into Medical Physics would Biophysics class be recommended?

    As the title says I want to go into Medical Physics. I have one more course requirement to finish my undergrad at the end of the spring semester. None of the courses are offered so I will have to do a independent study to replace one of these classes: Biophysics, Analytical Mechanics, or E&M II...
  34. J

    Thinking of quitting chemistry to go to school for engineering

    I'm looking for a bit of career guidance from you guys. I'm thinking about quitting my job and going back to school for some type of engineering. I finished a BS in chem in 2007 with a minor in math (through linear algebra and few upper electives) and a 3.1 gpa. After that I immediately...
  35. M

    Finishing my bachelor's degree; thinking of a job

    Hello everyone. I would assume such a thread would be very common in this section but I believe my circumstances are specific so I will make a new one. I'm a student in Slovenia, Central Europe. I'm finishing a bachelor's degree in physics. My particular area of study were astronomy and...
  36. Pengwuino

    Embarassing things you do without thinking

    I think I may have made a thread about this a long time ago but maybe I didn't. Does anyone else have things they do on a daily or hourly basis that occasionally embarrass you? Now, I'll give you an example of stuff I do that occasionally gets screwed up and makes me look stupid (to myself...
  37. W

    How can I stop overthinking and be more present in the moment?

    I need to think less about things. Thinking about things means that you have to think about the things that have to be done after those things are done. bla bla bla I lack the habituation. I always think. Think think think. Thinking about thinking. And thinking about how to think. Bla bla bla...
  38. B

    Programs Thinking on getting my a PhD in physics.

    Hi, I am currently doing a major in mechanical engineering. I am starting my 3rd year now. After i finish my major I'm thinking of getting my masters in aerospace engineering. I think that is going to take me like 5 or 6 years till i finish both things. Afters my masters, I what to do a major, a...
  39. Char. Limit

    So I was thinking about my future

    First, I've almost decided that I want to be an electrical engineer, but I wanted to know this. First, as a former math major who is highly interested in signals processing, is that the right path for me? And then I got to thinking of how much money I'd need to make per year to support the way I...
  40. N

    What job should i be thinking of?

    Hey, although I am 14, i have known for a long time that i want to be a physicist. My dream job would be to work at the LHC or at fermilab. I was wandering what universities offer great physics courses in the UK and would be right for me. I have an IQ of 162, and enjoy maths and physics. What...
  41. D

    Scientific Thinking Graphing -Determining the Mathematical Expression

    "Scientific Thinking Graphing" -Determining the Mathematical Expression Homework Statement Ok, so I recently got an assignment for "Scientific Thinking Graphing Practice". Basically, I need to take a data table that will produce a curve shaped graph and turn it into a straight lined graph...
  42. M

    Schools Do My Credentials Match Ivy League Standards?

    Hey I'm going to be a junior this year and I'm starting to look into colleges. I would love to get into a place like Stanford or MIT but I'm not sure if I have the credentials to do so. Just wanted to get some feedback on my chances at a school like these. Below are my courses/extracurriculars...
  43. S

    Richard Feynman <3 on 'thinking'.

    At the beginning...WOW what a huge boost in confidence! "You ask me if an ordinary person studying very hard would get to be able to imagine these things as I imgaine them? Of Course! I was an ordinary person who studied hard." ^.^ <3 I am in loveeeee...
  44. T

    Thinking about changing from Physics to Applied Mathematics/Pure mathematics

    Hello, I'm currently in the 1st year of physics (doing the 2nd semester final tests/exams now). I'm thinking about going to applied math/math because: - I think a master in physics, in Portugal, probably won't have a job. I'm not sure about this, because I really don't know where to get this...
  45. O

    Collision- Am I thinking about this the right way?

    Homework Statement Whats more destructive? A front collision between 2 identical cars, or 1 car with the same speed but driving into a mountainwall? Homework Equations Equations for conservation of energy and momentum. The Attempt at a Solution Hi guys, I am just wondering if I am...
  46. P

    Transfering soon thinking engineering

    I want to design and make headphones and stuff like that. Is electrical the best way to do fun stuff such as that?
  47. A

    Thinking Outside The Box About Existence.

    I have been thinking out of the box and I have come to the conclusion that something cannot exist without consuming something else. I know this sounds really wacky (for want of a better phrase :)) which is why I posted this in the Quantum forum, lol. We know plants consume nutrients and use...
  48. Ƒ

    Questions About Physics: Perspectives from Macro & Quantum Levels

    I don't know enough physics to answer these questions myselfs. For all I know, they might be foolish. Is there a branch of physics that takes perspective into account. I use that word in its most basic sense. To an observer on the quantum level, might everything appear to work according to...
  49. Z

    Studying Pursuing Astronomy with Dyscalculia: Advice Needed

    Hi, I'm new here, and was after some information and general advice on what I need to get done. For a very long time I've been extremely interested in astronomy, and as a child, and indeed as an adult, it's something that I've always wanted to do professionally. Unfortunately, I have a bit of...
  50. C

    If I'm thinking about this correctly, the voltage difference in a

    If I'm thinking about this correctly, the voltage difference in a conductor between two points of unequal temperature occurs because the chemical potential is lower on the hotter side which causes electrons to bunch up there. Is this correct? So at equilibrium, the macroscopic observation is...
Back
Top