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.

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  1. R

    Medical What is Thinking? Theories & Content Explored

    Does anyone know a mechanistic, physical theory of the process of thinking? It seems to involve observation - emotion and so much more, that I have no handle on it. The only theories I have heard are not physical but involve some spiritual or quantum tunneling out of spacetime and into a...
  2. thrill3rnit3

    How do you know if one is good at abstract thinking?

    How do you know if one is good at abstract thinking? I'm self evaluating myself if I can do pure maths in college, so any advice would be appreciated.
  3. S

    Why do humans seek answers about God and existence?

    Ok lately, well for the past few months, I've been thinking about things like God and existence. I'm atheist if anyone is wondering, just to get that out there. I'm thinking about writing an essay and here are somethings that have been on my mind and I was just wondering if anyone here has...
  4. N

    Medical Depression linked to analytical thinking

    source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=depressions-evolutionary&page=2 Interesting. So ,depression is linked to high analytical thinking skills; They are saying the reason why some people who isolate themselves from external stimuli like social interaction and not eating...
  5. Math Is Hard

    What the &#@*$ were you thinking?

    "What the &#@!*$ were you thinking??!?" The thread title makes sense when you get to the end of the movie. This video is dedicated to Ricco and Dr. Foofer.
  6. Peter Morgan

    Wanted: quotes that encourage thinking of experiments instead of measurements

    The classic reference on this is Bell's (highly recommended) polemic "Against measurement", which is in the 2nd edition of Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics (but not in the 1st edition; it can also be can be found in the original, Physics World 3 (August 1990), page 33). A quote to...
  7. G

    Thinking about a career change to ChemE

    So I have a BS in Chemistry and a BS in mathematics and just have been recently laid off from my job as a chemist at a pharmaceutical company. I have been thinking about going back to graduate school for ChemE. It seems right up my alley. The only thing is that I really don't want to have to...
  8. thrill3rnit3

    Veering Away from Mechanical Thinking

    Veering Away from "Mechanical Thinking" I'm a current high school student aspiring to become a mathematician. I am doing pretty well in my math classes, taking college level math here and there. However, I'm afraid that continuing to do the math that I'm taking right now leads me further and...
  9. A

    Courses Thinking about an independent-study CS course or two

    Hello, Next Spring, I may be taking a couple of independent study / directed reading type courses in Computer Science / Software Engineering. If interesting graduate courses are being offered, that may be what I end up doing, but... What do you guys think would make a good independent...
  10. R

    Model CO2 as Greenhouse Gas: Tips & Results

    I recently came across several apparently reputable sources (e.g., NASA, PBS) that describe a simple, elegant experiment intended to demonstrate carbon dioxide's role as a greenhouse gas. Each of them involves two sealed containers with thermometers - one containing air, the other containing...
  11. J

    News Thinking 'outside the mind' on taxes.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29298315" He is one of the innocent Obama appointees. The idea here is that you put a gps in your car that records how many miles you've traveled. Then when you go to the gas station, they read the gsp and you pay based on the number of miles you have travelled...
  12. R

    What should I be thinking about to solve Uniform Motion Problems?

    Homework Statement A helicopter traveling 130 mph overtakes a speeding car traveling 80 mph. The car had a 0.5-hour head start. How far from the starting point does the helicopter overtake the car? The answer is 104 miles from the starting point. Homework Equations No equations were...
  13. M

    Interesting quote about wrong thinking

    "Think of what you're saying, you can get it wrong and still think that it's all right." from some song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. anyway, this got me thinking about how many times I've though I've really understood something, or was absolutely sure that I was correct about...
  14. Phrak

    News Put on Your Economic Thinking Caps

    CBS New, Los Angeles, 4:20 AM 1/7/09: "The Federal Reserve announces, the rate of inflation is uncomfortably low." What does this mean? Why was this announced--what is the intent? How does this relate to the last 14 years of economic changes? For those interested in future economic...
  15. G

    Wierd Mental Image thinking about bacteria

    So I was just thinking about how our eyes can't see things too far and too near and how there is so many microscopic reactions and organisms that we can't not see. And I just got this mental image, of my single knuckle zooming in, and it looks like a mountain. Its very discolored and there is a...
  16. G

    Probablity & Statistics: I need some help, but not in the way you're thinking

    Probablity & Statistics: I need some help, but not in the way you're thinking :) Homework Statement Well, I really should be getting on with my work. You see I do what's called Distance Education (I do my work from home via the internet) because I find it difficult to learn in a classroom...
  17. L

    Improving Mental Speed for Math Problems

    Hey all, I'm a pretty good physics and maths student, I'm starting my physics BSc in February 2009. But one thing I've found is that I'm slow at thinking. I nearly always run out of time for exams, which is frustrating. Also, it takes me a few seconds to do questions like '153 minus 8'. So...
  18. M

    Physics I am thinking of getting a Msc in geophysics.

    I am thinking of getting a Msc in geophysics.What are the job prospects?Is there a demand for geophysicist worldwide?
  19. H

    Natural thinking, common sense, and science?

    I just watched some pbs program about the universe, and the conclusion was that existence is no accident, its the universe working for billions of years... seriously? you just wasted 1hr of my time to tell me something a little kid couldve told me in 10secs..? Im no scientist... but i can...
  20. mcknia07

    I was just thinking and wondering to myself How many of my fellow

    I was just thinking and wondering to myself...How many of my fellow I was just thinking and wondering to myself...How many of my fellow PFers have had either one and how long did you have to wear them, or still wearing them? Or did you have perfect teeth or need them and can't get them? Just an...
  21. M

    Me, Thinking About A Jump and A Fall

    Hi all. I had grade 11 physics so I know the basics on physics.. grade 12 comes later this year... Anyways I was thinking about the systems in a jump, and the motion involved and I know motion physics work and all so don't get me wrong :P I'm not trying to disporve something here... I just know...
  22. M

    Schools Applied math major, thinking of grad school

    hey guys im currently an applied math major, with a CS minor, about to enter my 4th year. I am thinking i'd like to work in robotics maybe, and might be considering getting masters-level education in EE, or systems engineering. is this an easy transition, from applied math, to engineering...
  23. R

    Critical Thinking Textbook: Depth & Breadth for College Level

    What is a good college-level textbook on Critical Thinking? What I'm looking for is depth in the subject as well as breadth.
  24. O

    Is there a physiological basis for magical thinking?

    I know that there is argument over whether behavior developed in tandem with physique. But is there a known physiological basis or impetus for magical thinking? Where the mind fails to account for things it does not understand, there is a natural inclination to explain the mysteries of life with...
  25. F

    Find A and B: General Solution

    the general solution
  26. W

    Engineering I have been thinking about a physics or engineering career

    .but there is a problem! I'll start with Engineering, I would probably chose aerospace or electrical engineering(concentration on robotics/AI)...Maybe robotic spacecraft . Engineering seems too applied for me. I like to be on the absolute cutting edge, and I am afraid if I go into...
  27. S

    A question about strategy thinking this logical questions

    here is an example for a typical question: there are three kings jan,luk,pikard each one of them has one crown a large or medium or small and each crown is one of gold,silver,copper the copper crown located closely to the right of a small crown. the golden crown is the large one and its...
  28. T

    Maximizing My Transfer for Top Grad Schools: Consider These Factors

    Hi, I'm going into my sophomore year at Duquesne University, majoring in physics and math. I am thinking of transferring to another university, however. The reason is that I really want to be able to get into a top grad school to earn my PhD, because I want to go into research. Duquesne's...
  29. R

    Finding the Identity and Inverse of the Operation *

    "Define a * b, for a,b \in R by a * b = ab+a+b. What we just have done is defined a new operation *, in terms of the well known ones multiplication and addition." Is there a real number which is the identity under the operation * ? Lets call this number e. A number for which a * e = e * a...
  30. T

    What are you thinking at the moment

    Hi, this Thread is for posting what you think at the moment. It is a nice thing :smile: I start: I am thinking that I should go into my bed. It is two o'clock a.m. :eek: :zzz:
  31. russ_watters

    I'm thinking of starting a website

    ...called dontbeparishilton.com. I don't know if it is something that gets worse as you go further west (it is nothing like this in PA), but about every third girl here in Ft Collins, Colorado appears to be attempting to enter a Paris Hilton look-alike contest. I mean seriously - do they...
  32. H

    Why is it important to enjoy the thinking process?

    Why do humans fear thinking? From personal experience, I've seen people scuttle at the thought of homework or some mathematical calculation. It seems we are inherently lazy. Is this because the thinking process requires tremendous energy or what? If I asked you to simplify (a + b)^7 x (x +...
  33. V

    The Role of Propagators in Determining Decay Rates

    i was thinking about propagators, and I've got bit of a silly question. The amplitude for any given decay takes the form: f(q^{2})=\frac{g^{2}}{q^{2}+M_{X}^{2}c^{2}}. for EMAG decays, the Mx=0 (as we're dealing with photons), so the amplitude is just: f(q^{2})=\frac{g^{2}}{q^{2}}, Why do...
  34. G

    Schools Thinking about takeing physics in university but have a few questions

    So here's the deal. Right now i am a high school student (age 17) and i am going off to uni in about a year and i really like physics. i want to take physics only in undergrad thou if i do end up taking it because i want to get to med school after 4 years. so here are my questions... How...
  35. B

    I'm thinking of building a Tesla Coil

    I have a very limited budget right now. How much do you think it would cost to build a small Tesla Coil? This would include buying the components of a Tesla coil.
  36. P

    I Don't Waste Time Pondering Unanswerable Questions

    Theres so many questions, why are we here, what's our purpose etc... Why does there have to be an answer, can't we just accept what is, and live life in ignorance? I'm sure many will argue that tryign to find the answer to the ultimate question is our purpose in life, but if there is no...
  37. S

    Can statistics support irrational thinking?

    Here is the scenario. Picture three people standing at a playground watching the children play. The first is grouchy and sees all the busy activity as stressful noise. The second person is in a good mood and sees the child play as relaxing and fun. The third person is full of anxiety and sees...
  38. R

    So I was thinking about Light, right ?

    ...and I was wondering, Light travels at 670,616,629mph, which is rather fast. For light to travel that fast, it must carry a huge amount of energy, surely? So, if that's the case, why do we get so comparatively little from current solar energy mediums? Are there any ideas or theories...
  39. M

    Silly me: Not thinking straight today: simple questions

    Homework Statement Two equations here, I need to simplify both of them but I'm not too sure: (y^2+1)/(y^2+1) as well as (t^2-s^2)/(s+t)^2 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  40. Andre

    Does the Atom Have to Be U238 in Schrödinger's Cat Experiment?

    A simple one, Schrödingers cat. A cat is placed in a box, together with a radioactive atom. If the atom decays, and the geiger-counter detects an alpha particle, the hammer hits a flask of prussic acid (HCN), killing the cat. Now why is the cat alive when the observer opens the box?
  41. B

    Is it Possible to Balance School and Parenting as a 23-Year-Old Working Mom?

    Hi all, I am 23 and currently working as a customer service rep. I have a two year old daughter who I have two days a week. I have been considering going to school to study engineering. The largest thing I am worrying about is whether I have time to pursue a degree which is so demanding. My...
  42. DaveC426913

    What Makes This Clock So Unconventional?

    There's nothing wrong with this clock. So what's wrong with this clock?
  43. wolram

    Thinking Game: Who Has the Better Thoughts?

    What is it that puts one persons thoughts above another's? please do not quote some thoughts from people that have not been tested beyond reasonable doubt.
  44. A

    Thinking time vs. Writing Time

    This may seem a very strange poll but I honestly want to know what others think. I just spent 1 hour writing out a full, rigourous solution to a problem. I formulated the main idea in about 5 minutes and I knew that my proof (once written out) would be correct. After spending about 12 times...
  45. D

    If you're thinking of marrying a biochemist

    Think twice. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/12/12/4721388-ap.html LOS ANGELES - A biochemist who killed her husband by knocking him out and pouring hydrochloric acid on him was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder. A Superior Court jury found Larissa Schuster, 47, of Clovis...
  46. Y

    Is photon God? -fun thinking

    Is photon God? -fun thinking :) what we count for "God" could be photon(s) itself? It's beyond time( time has no meaning for a photon can go anywhere anytime as space is shrunk to zero for it), it has a limitless power (can be a gamma ray and destroy any matter it encounters just by changing...
  47. C

    How does our brain use metaphors to understand abstract concepts?

    Metaphorically thinking We commonly think of metaphor as something like analogy. We are trying to explain something to someone and we say this something new is very much like this other something you are familiar with. This is one form of metaphor but there is another metaphor that is...
  48. K

    Physics I'm thinking about going into physics. What are career opportunities?

    I'm thinking about going into physics, but I was wondering what kind of careers will physics lead me to.
  49. C

    Reflexivity: The Interconnectedness of Thinking and Reality

    Thinking is part of reality Our educational system and our culture lie to us. We are taught by our educational system and by our culture that there is thinking and there is reality and that thinking’s job is to discover reality; never informing us that reality and thinking go together, one...
  50. mattmns

    Thinking about a new (desktop) computer

    Hello, I am thinking about buying a new DESKTOP computer, but I would like some advice. First my OS has to be either Windows XP or Vista. I already have a disc for XP and I have no problem installing it from scratch if it were to save a significant amount of money. Second I should...
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