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. P

    Discriminant - Nice thinking stump

    This is driving me nutty. Here's a theorem and its proof as appearing in my notes. It's short, go through it if you have the courage. :smile: Theorem. Let L=K\left(\alpha\right), and let \alpha_{1},...,\alpha_{n} be the n conjugates of \alpha . Then if f\left(x\right)\in K\left[x\right]...
  2. A

    Admissions Right I'm thinking of applying for a phD in some area of physics

    Right I'm thinking of applying for a phD in some area of physics once I finished my 4 year Msc physics course, I'm going into my second year once this summer is over. Do you think I should be worrying about what topic area of physics I want to do a phD in already? (and I'm thinking of...
  3. L

    What is the process of thinking and finding answers to questions?

    One interesting question, I believe to understand how questions can be asked and how they can be answered is "How does thinking work ?" Lets say I wanted to write a some some kind of computer program. For me that would normally be some program written under Linux. Let's say I log on to the...
  4. S

    Medical Why does thinking about old memories feels good?

    My bro. told me that it feels good b/c it gives us a sense of accomplishment; legacy. But I saw an old video I havn't seen in a long time and it made my brain access a part of its mind which I don't experience very often. Thanks for the replies!
  5. L

    What is thinking, and why does people think ?

    What is thinking, and why does people "think" ? How can it be that humans once started "thinking" ? What can "thinking" be used for ? How is thinking performed ? What can be thought of ? Is there different ways to perform "thinking" ? Is there any difference in quality in what way...
  6. L

    Relationships between thinking, logic and deductive reasoning

    Relationships between thinking, logic and deductive reasoning .. I have to admit that philosophy is normally not "my thing" and that the reason that I found this wonderfull forum was that I was searching for something about physics and technology. My idea was/is to collect some central...
  7. T

    Why is my thinking wrong?

    I don't understand one thing... the square of 1 = 1, the square of 2 = 4, the square of 3 = 9. Basically... a square is the number added to itself by the number of times it is. That is square of 2 is 2 added to itself 2 times.. so 4, and 3 added to itself 3 times makes it 9. Now take the...
  8. S

    What is a Ballistics Pendulum and How Can I Use it for My Physics Project?

    Good day. I'm a 11th grade IB student and i need help thinking of a nice physics project. Could you guys recommend me any nice ones? Preferably ones that would take 2 weeks to a month since i need to complete a certain number of hours doing the project. I'd take into consideration any project...
  9. V

    Please share with me about your thinking on Fermi Energy

    In metal, fermi energy is the highest energy states that electron occupied at T=0. And so, fermi energy of a particular metal is an intrinsic value, and won't be changed. Then for a semiconductor, What is fermi energy, is there any concrete interpretation as of metal? Why is it just in the...
  10. M

    I need a good thinking trivia question for my Math club

    I'm doing this for extra credit for my teacher and I have NO IDEA where to get any problems. In the past, my friends did... something like a = b (long lines of equation) and we had to find what's wrong. It took a while, but the club got it. I want something like that. It can be at around...
  11. V

    Medical Exploring Thinking, Learning & Brain Activity for Mental Well-Being

    I'll give three subjects to work with please tell me any descriptive attributes to them: Thinking: If you think with the knowledge you have now but expand on it does it help yourself? Also, how does learning have to do with this Learning: How do you know when your learning at your limit...
  12. F

    Is Thinking About the Nature of Thought Futile?

    I am operating under the assumption that one must engage in thinking when studying the nature of thought. Conclusions about the nature of thought are thus distorted by the process used to reach those conclusions. Are we prepared to state that thought is a tool which can be trusted to...
  13. DaveC426913

    Thinking caps on : telescoping mechanism

    I'd like some help from builders - modellers or mechanical tinkerers. I'm trying to build the skeletons of some polyhedra - the vertices are intersections of rods - no faces. http://www.reed.edu/~mcphailb/puzzles/images/hex.bmp" I want to be able to telescope the rods by about 3x. So, I...
  14. S

    What Would Happen if the Earth Was Flat and There Was No Gravity?

    If the Earth was flat, and there were no such thing as gravity, and it, along with all the celestial bodies, accelerated upwards (so, parallel to normal) at 1g(9.8m/s^2), what would happen if I dropped a pen while I am on earth?
  15. W

    Calculators I have a TI-83 graphing calculator and am thinking about upgrading

    I have a TI-83 graphing calculator and am thinking about upgrading to the 89 because extra useful features. Is it worth it?
  16. Schrodinger's Dog

    Source: Sterling, Brain Teasers, p. 30

    OK I'm a big fan of lateral thinking puzzles, logic puzzes are great for testing those little grey cells and I thoroughlly enjoy them too, but when you want to get:confused: and a little of the beaten track: lateral is the way to go, so I found some. Have fun...:smile: Ok these aren't that...
  17. K

    I finally got it. I finally know what women is thinking

    http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmopolitan/sex/no/articles/0,,426367_699012-1,00.html Previously, i don t "understand" why so many women do this in front of me, and now, i do! So when woman does this behavior, she is actually into a guy! I always thought this was some weird thing women do...
  18. M

    Thinking about business, but after spending so much time in engineering/science

    Thinking about business, but after spending so much time in engineering/science... Hello everyone, This is a big step and I don't know if I want to do it or not. Heres how my changing of majors already occured. I went from being a Software Engineer then got hurt in a car accident and was...
  19. P

    Schools Thinking about what to study in graduate school as an undergraduate

    As an undergraduate, did any of you know what you wanted to studied in graduate school. I have absolutely no idea what I want to studied once I begin graduate school. Was there something that caused you to go into a certain direction in a physics field. I guess most people get there...
  20. O

    Programs Thinking about getting a PhD in Scientific Computing

    So I've got an MSc in Engineering physics and I'm now deciding if I should go find a job in the industry, or stay in school to get a PhD, more specifically in Scientific computing and numerical analysis. Getting the PhD is very temping, but the main thing holding me back is that I don't know how...
  21. P

    Introduction to Critical Thinking?

    Can anyone recommend some good 'introduction to critical thinking' books?
  22. M

    Is my thinking correct? combinations of 2 types, wee

    Hello everyone, another example in the book I'm wanting to make sure I'm seeing how they got their answer correctly. It says: Supppose the group pof 12 consists of 5 men and 7 women. How many 5 person teams contain at most one man? Solution: The set of teams containing at most one man...
  23. wolram

    Thinking on a Tangent: Universe & Beyond

    Why do people think about extra dimensions to aide our knowledge of the universe, when we do not even know what forces control the elements? i mean what controls the properties of the photon, the electron, they are well known in the literature, but what gives them there properties, why should a...
  24. C

    Time is the refresh rate of conscious thinking

    I believe that time as humans perceive it, is a product of how often our conscious thought, or inner dialogue, accesses images of time passing. To illustrate this, consider a human watching the second hands move on a wall clock for 2 minutes straight. This person will feel like much time...
  25. Evo

    Thinking about entering a chili contest

    It's the annual chili cook off at work, and based on the sorry, pathetic entries last year, someone needs to show these people what real chili is. Real chili is not soupy nor does it contain bell peppers. Bell peppers are not what they're referring to when a chili recipe calls for peppers...
  26. U

    Am I supposed to be thinking of the Pythagorean Theorem?

    I can't seem to understand this problem. Could someone give me a hint as to what I'm supposed to be thinking? Vectors A, B and C satisfy the vecotr equation A + B = C, and their magnitudes are related by the scalar equation A^2 + B^2 = C^2. How is vector A oriented with respect to vector B...
  27. D

    Coconut Movement in Ocean Waves

    Hi all, Considering the nature of a water wave, how is the coconut going to move inland, say it is in the middle of the ocean(pacific)? Am i correct to say that the coconut bobs straight up and down. Thx! Any help will be appreciated
  28. P

    Im thinking about building a cyclometer

    Should i be able to replace those large stationary "dee" magnets with electromagntes? (or would that be a grand misuse of the powersupply, as i know i will need to supply an ample amount to the electron gun, and the current which i need to accelerate the particles, rather than simply keep them...
  29. A

    Medical How can taking a break help us solve problems more effortlessly?

    Ive noticed something about myself when i try to solve a problem consciously i can't do it i'd be stuck there for hours and then i'd give up and like a nagging song the problem would surface again and my mind would solve the problem effortlessly and everything starts to 'fit' like a jigsaw...
  30. W

    Logic and critical thinking

    I have somehow managed to maintain a "B" in this class, but I need help on this assignment. I have completed it and just need to know if it is wrong and if it is why? Exercise 10 In the cartoon Doonesbury, the character of Boopsie claimed to be the reincarnated girl friend of the 16th...
  31. P

    Thinking about superconductance

    Hey everyone. It's summer, and I'm thinking, mostly about superconductors for some reason, and I have a question. For this, I'm going to pretend we have a room temperature superconductor pulled into a wire (I know, doesn't exist, but just thinking here). If a DC voltage was applied to a...
  32. Ivan Seeking

    Medical Can we truly have five dimensional thinking?

    The word dimesional may not be a good choice, but the idea is to consider how many thoughts [maybe levels of awareness] we can carry at once. The other day while driving down a long, straight, remote road that passes through the grass fields, I was playing a little mental game to see how many...
  33. H

    Help Stop Uncontrollable Thinking

    I don't know why, but lastly I can't control and stop my thinking. It's like my brain thinks against my will and I can't control it. I'm afraid that if I keep on like that, I will finally run out, and get some kind of brainy diesease like Alzhaimer or any others. I'm thinking even when I do...
  34. wolram

    Reading Thoughts: Can You Tell What a Stranger Is Thinking?

    Can you tell in a general sort of way what some is thinking ? this would be some what easier with a familly member or close friend, but what about a stranger ?
  35. W

    Medical Linear thinking Vs. Picture thinking

    Can you elaborate on linear and picture thinking process. Linear as being a step-by-step process, and picture thinking processes multiples "pictures" simultaniously. Which thinking procecss might make the person smarter, successful?
  36. Pengwuino

    How people say they're wrong without actually thinking it

    We've all had those conversations... when you know you're right but the person you're arguing against is dead set against agreeing you no matter how manyc ontradictions you point out in their argument and they ignore or how illogical their views are. Now, feel free to contribue! Mind you, some...
  37. P

    Exploring the Nature of Thinking

    Hello there, I'm by no means a philosophy student but I plan on majoring it in college :rolleyes:. Anyway, I was killing some time, waiting for my introductory books to arrive, by playing with my 8 year old little sister. Well, she asked me this very interesting question. "Phusicist, when a...
  38. J

    Music Music that enhances thinking

    Hi, Does anyone have any exceptional music to recommend that they believe enhances their ability to concentrate or visualize highly abstract and/or complex math/physics problems? It's fun experimenting with stuff like this so if you have any recommendations let me know. [I do a lot of math &...
  39. A

    I need a very unusual UV filter (no, not what you're thinking)

    Hello, I want to show my class how tonic water will fluoresce under UV light. My UV sources are a couple of 12V UV bulbs, as designed to "pimp out" (don't ask) a PC. Here's the main problem: these also put out some visible wavelength, purplish light. I'd like filter this visible light...
  40. R

    Here is what I am thinking of

    I am trying to finish as soon as possible my master thesis, and at the same time working harder to earn more money to leave UK for US. I think I am taught enough. It's time I have to go...
  41. T

    What's wrong with this thinking?

    Before I even venture into the maze, a question: what I'm meaning to do, is post a 'personal theory about relativity' that some guy told me. Now, it's quite ludicrous, even though the dear man tries to stick to the right principle. Which makes it hard for me, who is not really interested in...
  42. P

    What is wrong with my thinking?

    Einstein stated that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames. Lets do the old thought experiment There are a pair of twins each with identical watches. One remains on Earth while the other travels out into space near the speed of light and back again. The...
  43. P

    Medical Is it possible to think oneself to death?

    Suppose u have a perfectly healthy individual. Is it possible for him to think himself to death? Some ideas i had: For example by meditating so intensively that one feels the ego dissolve and consciousness leave the body. Another example is this part in the matrix where they say: "if you...
  44. R

    Are We Only Seeing the Tip of the Dimensional Iceberg?

    The following is not intended as a definitive explanation of other dimensions, but a suggestion for other ways of looking at the idea of physical dimensions. Supporters of string theory occasionally remark that the reason we cannot "see" other dimensions is that they must be very small...
  45. S

    Studying Thinking of studying physical sciences

    Right now, along with many other high school students in North America (and the rest of the world, I guess), I am faced with the dilemma of what I’m going to do after high school, and subsequently, the rest of my life. I know that with my limited knowledge of the world outside of high school...
  46. E

    Thinking about matrices/polynomials

    Hi, A homework problem I ran across awhile ago asked me to determine if a set of of 2x2 Matrices were a basis for the set of aa 2x2 matrices. Am I going to run into any pitfalls by thinking about such 2x2 matrices as vectors of 4 components? Basically what I did was turn each 2x2 matrix into...
  47. D

    Unlocking Creativity: Practical Applications of Physics for A Level Students

    Thinking "out of the box" Hey guys, I'm currently doing A levels (UK EXAMS) and I've decided I want to do physics at Uni... I was wondering if anyone could recommend me any books or websites to help me think "outside the box", ie. applying current knowledge to new situations.. I can do it in my...
  48. P

    News Picking a Supreme Court Nominee: What's Bush Thinking?

    What next nomination for the Supreme Court would help provide bush with support? I have heard tha a conservative nominee will be met with a filibuster and I have heard that a moderate nominee will be frowned upon by the right. Bush has to know that this is an important decision. Who do...
  49. Mk

    Feline or Caravel? What Am I Thinking of?

    I thought a caravel was a feline? Like a lynx or bobcat kind. What am I thinking of? A "caravel" is also a Portuguese or Spanish sea vessel. But what's the cat!
  50. R

    I'm thinking about buying a microscope

    Hey. So like my topic says, I am thinking about buying a microscope via eBay for home use. It's generally to run my biology experiments. I am looking at a microscope with around 1600x magnification so it's possible for me to be able to go further in my experiments. I have been looking...
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