[Mannosuke]

What does it mean to 'think', ie: the act of thinking.
Or in other words, what IS thinking?

[megan92]

idk. and i don't want to think about it haha.

[ax1989]

wtf? what kind of question is that? thinking is thinking. do you want a scientific explanation or a philosophical one?

[Mannosuke]

wtf? what kind of question is that? thinking is thinking. do you want a scientific explanation or a philosophical one?

Either of them demonstrates more thought than simply saying "thinking is thinking"

[Painterlyy]

I'm confused...I agree that thinking is thinking.
What else is it?

[Mannosuke]

I'm confused...I agree that thinking is thinking.
What else is it?

If I asked you to describe what thinking is, how would you do it?
Essentially, I'm asking you to think about what it means to think.

"Use your head"? No...you can use your head to attack people and physically harm them, and that probably wouldn't be thinking.

Now consider this term: Brainstorm. Describe what it means to brainstorm and see if you can do it without using the word "think" or any variation of the word "think"

[Frozy]

I know thinking is just another way of playing a customizable music player/DvD player since you can alter what you think anyway you want. But describing the actual term is difficult itself since I've taken for granted what the word actually means without ever thinking about it, LoL this sound retarded.

I believe thinking is just playing a set of images, sounds, and color onto this "screen" we imagine in our minds. I have no idea how I can actually see it, but it's apparently there, just like a TV screen. Of course, since everything I look at one point just looks like a TV projection.

But now what I think about it. The simplest words like "The, words, just" confuse the hell out of me when I try to think of what the definition is. Now you're making my brain go nuts xD.

[sethsegel]

I really am not sure what you're asking for, but I guess if it's a definition of thinking, my best guestimate would be ;

The process in your brain of deciphering information and acting accordingly, depending on the necesity of said information.

[Mannosuke]

I know thinking is just another way of playing a customizable music player/DvD player since you can alter what you think anyway you want. But describing the actual term is difficult itself since I've taken for granted what the word actually means without ever thinking about it, LoL this sound retarded.

I believe thinking is just playing a set of images, sounds, and color onto this "screen" we imagine in our minds. I have no idea how I can actually see it, but it's apparently there, just like a TV screen. Of course, since everything I look at one point just looks like a TV projection.

But now what I think about it. The simplest words like "The, words, just" confuse the hell out of me when I try to think of what the definition is. Now you're making my brain go nuts xD.

I really am not sure what you're asking for, but I guess if it's a definition of thinking, my best guestimate would be ;

The process in your brain of deciphering information and acting accordingly, depending on the necesity of said information.

I agree, these are different ways to understand what it means to think (and a whole lot more specific than "thinking is just thinking" which means absolutely nothing)

Indeed, this thread is an attempt to define what it means to think. Though it's already been done, can't hurt to come up with some ideas of our own lol

By comparing both responses, we see one commonality between the two: they both involve processing information and perhaps using this information for further uses.

So I would consider the idea of brainstorming: the iterative act of forming ideas and refining them (and finally presenting something concrete and focused).

When you brainstorm, you are essentially THINKING about things, so we can simply say thinking is a process:

-collecting information
-formulating new ideas and refining old ideas

People have different ways of thinking, but in the end it appears we end up with pretty much the same results. When we think about designing a new house, some people might be putting sticks and stones and bricks together whereas another might think of a bunch of numbers and measurements and other physics-related stuff.

[Suigintou]

Thinking is doubting

I doubt, therefore I exist.

[Lenduro]

I'll get back with you. I have to reread Descartes.

[Mannosuke]

Thinking is doubting

I doubt, therefore I exist.

I would say doubting is an aspect of thinking, but the converse would not be true.

Given a statement "red apples are red"

1: you could think about it but not necessarily doubt it
"yes...red apples are red...hence the reason why you call it a red apple"

2: if you doubt it, then you MUST be thinking about the validity of that statement
"red apples may not be red..but then what color would they be?"

You can't doubt something without having thoughts that give you a feeling that it's wrong.

[brownman90561495]

defining "thinking" is really broad. to start if off:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/think

[Mannosuke]

defining "thinking" is really broad. to start if off:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/think

There are 16 starting points there, though most of them are similar in concept.
Which one lol

[*frutti]

Why don't you look it up in the dictionary...:

think1 [thingk] Show IPA verb, thought, think⋅ing, adjective, noun
–verb (used without object) 1. to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc.
2. to employ one's mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation: Think carefully before you begin.
3. to have a certain thing as the subject of one's thoughts: I was thinking about you. We could think of nothing else.
4. to call something to one's conscious mind: I couldn't think of his phone number.
5. to consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.: She thought about cutting her hair.
6. to invent or conceive of something: We thought of a new plan.

[Mannosuke]

Why don't you look it up in the dictionary...:

After consulting the dictionary, plz describe to me what is "thinking".
But your response has given me an idea for my next topic of discussion.

The dictionary gives you a definition for the word, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can describe it. Defining something and describing something are two different things, and generally one is required before the other can be achieved.

[lovesbride]

"The brain is likened to a popcorn machine continually producing bubbles (kernels) of thought. Once the person receives the thought, the bubble pops and voila! It�s gone; but another is always there to replace it. Some are apparently void of thought while others seem to be consumed with the invisible matter � not actually having thoughts, but with the concept. Young women particularly, between the ages of approximately 19-29 are so obsessed with thought that they ask their boyfriends/husbands, �What are you thinking?� a minimum of seven times per day. His response is consistent, �Nothing.� She never believes him, which is the reason she continues to ask. However, he has been entirely truthful. That is, until the 4th or 5th time she asks, and then he�s thinking, �I wish she�d shut up.� Some make the mistake of saying so, resulting in hours of accusatory sobbing banter. (i.e. �You don�t love me anymore; why don�t you treat me like you used to; etc.)"

-Just thought that was funny. Got it from uncyclopedia.
BUT ANYWAYS. Great question. Really triggers the brain.

[brownman90561495]

There are 16 starting points there, though most of them are similar in concept.
Which one lol

lol i knew you're going to ask that

[ShadowMax76]

x_X" before i heard the word "process"
i thought of thought as action without action.

something like a fantasy to the reality. but perhaps that's because i'm a person who thinks of scenarios whilst the pretty girl walks away, oblivious of my fantasies. rofl.

newborns are thought to not be able to distinguish themselves from the things around them. it's a funny thought, cos we're given words to distinguish things from each other. we're told we're individuals. we're told we exist, and that rock is non-living - according to the rules of life, being and being deceased. but what is living? a condition, more or less.

x_X' words are restrictions. there's no doubt about that. even if new words = new restrictions, new meanings = less restrictions. Xx' reply if you wish, i ain't gonna think more about it. lol

[Irony.]

Isn't this related to philosophy and that's not allowed?