There is an obvious battle of thought evident in the world today, and this forum is but a microcosm of that fight.
This reality, however, does not address the underlying question: why does a person's thoughts matter?
Even this question requires further clarification and articulation, as it is evident how some thought-inspired actions are connected immediately to a person's physical well-being while other thoughts fade in intensity of impact in varying degrees to a diminishing point of negligibility.
Therefore, the emboldened question is concerned with those thoughts which have no direct or indirect connection to a person's immediate physical well-being.
While those life-impacting thoughts seem to populate a good concentration of our thought life, the reality is, the mental world is overwhelmingly populated by concepts and concerns completely neutral (or seemingly so) to the aspect of preservation of life.
The Christian has been admonished to both guard their thoughts against lies as well as focus their thoughts on truth, under the general axiom that as a man thinks, so he is.
But outside of this, what possible bearing do those thoughts unrelated to the preservation of life have on anything for a person?
What difference does it make, for instance, if a person rejects the notion of the earth as a globe?
What practical applications to a person's life would be altered by a belief on such a topic, either way?
Originally posted by FreakyKBH There is an obvious battle of thought evident in the world today, and this forum is but a microcosm of that fight.
This reality, however, does not address the underlying question: [b]why does a person's thoughts matter?
Even this question requires further clarification and articulation, as it is evident how some thought-inspired actions are conne ...[text shortened]... ctical applications to a person's life would be altered by a belief on such a topic, either way?[/b]
Thought takes as forward as a species and will inevitably enable us to outwit future alien invasion. (8th June 2089).
Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke Thought takes as forward as a species and will inevitably enable us to outwit future alien invasion. (8th June 2089).
Without thought progress is impossible.
Without thought progress is impossible. That's a great idea, but it doesn't say much about when we're wrong!
Originally posted by FreakyKBH There is an obvious battle of thought evident in the world today, and this forum is but a microcosm of that fight.
This reality, however, does not address the underlying question: [b]why does a person's thoughts matter?
Even this question requires further clarification and articulation, as it is evident how some thought-inspired actions are connected ...[text shortened]... ctical applications to a person's life would be altered by a belief on such a topic, either way?
A human's capacity for thoughts which have no direct or indirect connection to his or her immediate physical well-being are an indicator that there is clearly more to human life than merely immediate physical well-being.
Guarding one's thoughts against lies as well as searching for and focussing one's thoughts on "truth" are inherent to the human condition, given our facility for abstraction and for affecting one another in psychological and philosophical (non-physical) ways.
"What possible bearing do those thoughts unrelated to the preservation of life have on anything for a person?" In practical terms, they give our lives meaning because they create our each and every identity and personhood and create the diversity (in the human environment) that nourishes the human spirit.
I believe that our capacity to go far beyond thoughts related only to the preservation of life and immediate physical well-being is undoubtedly something for we humans to celebrate and revel in. It defines us and sets us apart from animals.
Originally posted by FMF A human's capacity for thoughts which have no direct or indirect connection to his or her immediate physical well-being are an indicator that there is clearly more to human life than merely immediate physical well-being.
Guarding one's thoughts against lies as well as searching for and focussing one's thoughts on "truth" are inherent to the human condition, ...[text shortened]... something for we humans to celebrate and revel in. It defines us and sets us apart from animals.
I believe that our capacity to go far beyond thoughts related only to the preservation of life and immediate physical well-being is undoubtedly something for we humans to celebrate and revel in. It defines us and sets us apart from animals. I agree with most of these sentiments.
However, of what bearing are those thoughts not aligned with facts and otherwise (seemingly) non-consequential?
Originally posted by FreakyKBH However, of what bearing are those thoughts not aligned with facts and otherwise (seemingly) non-consequential?
The only consequences of thoughts are found in the behaviour of the thinkers that thunk them and in how they influence the thoughts (and then the behaviour) of others. I don't think that whether or not the thoughts are "aligned with facts" necessarily determines what these effects turn out to be or the degree to which they are consequential.
Jim Jones' thoughts on parachutists coming to shoot innocent babies and torture children and seniors - clearly "not aligned with facts" - nevertheless resulted in the murder-suicide of 909 of the people who acted upon them.
Dwight Eisenhower's thoughts - arguably "aligned with facts" - on the grave implications of the conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry and its potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power in the USA went largely not acted upon and so were essentially inconsequential.
Originally posted by FreakyKBH There is an obvious battle of thought evident in the world today, and this forum is but a microcosm of that fight.
This reality, however, does not address the underlying question: [b]why does a person's thoughts matter?
Even this question requires further clarification and articulation, as it is evident how some thought-inspired actions are conne ...[text shortened]... ctical applications to a person's life would be altered by a belief on such a topic, either way?[/b]
I'll take the obvious answer of "a person's belief that the earth is not a globe has practical application in the sense that it precludes a career as a respectable scientist."
You may say, "but the person's career is already respectable and he gets by fine without being a scientist", but the fact remains that potential was limited back at the moment of the career choice by the false belief.
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem I'll take the obvious answer of "a person's belief that the earth is not a globe has practical application in the sense that it precludes a career as a respectable scientist."
You may say, "but the person's career is already respectable and he gets by fine without being a scientist", but the fact remains that potential was limited back at the moment of the career choice by the false belief.
I'll take the obvious answer of "a person's belief that the earth is not a globe has practical application in the sense that it precludes a career as a respectable scientist." Somewhat subjective, don't you think, given that scientists--- respected in their fields--- have held and do hold that the earth is flat?
Originally posted by FreakyKBH [b]I'll take the obvious answer of "a person's belief that the earth is not a globe has practical application in the sense that it precludes a career as a respectable scientist." Somewhat subjective, don't you think, given that scientists--- respected in their fields--- have held and do hold that the earth is flat?[/b]
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem Example please.
Are you asking because you really think it's not possible that any scientist on earth might hold to a flat earth theory, or because you want to see if you recognize their names?
Value of Thought
10 Oct '15 17:12
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