Categorie: Quote

The purpose of thought

The purpose of thinking is to let the ideas die instead of us dying – Alfred North Withhead

Evolutionary psychologists regard the ability to think as an adaption. Just like our sense of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing have been advantageous to our survival – so has thought.

Buddha had a similar idea, regarding the mind as an equal contributor to our reality as the other five senses. Our thoughts become another way to filter and interpret the world.

I like this interpretation, because it gives meaning to thought.

De-problemise

Giving the idea is not giving the solution,
nor does it define the problem
the idea should work for.

Giving the idea
is giving a broader space
to de-problemise the problem,
defining it more positively
and make it more
easy to
find the
solution.