New Essay: What Is Human Thinking?

I’ve just published a new page in my hypertext project Me, Looking for Meaning. It’s called “What Is Human Thinking?” and it explores what our thoughts really are—and how much (or how little) control we actually have over them.

We often treat thinking as a sign of intelligence, as if it’s always good to “think things through.” But thinking isn’t always rational, linear, or fully ours. Thoughts can be nonlinear, associative, deeply shaped by culture, and often invisible to us in the way they form. In this essay, I reflect on where thoughts come from, how they’re influenced by past experiences and society, and how they differ from animal cognition. I also briefly touch on the modular model of the mind and the variety of thinking styles (topics to be explored in future essays).

If you’ve ever wondered why your brain suddenly jumps from one idea to another—or why some thoughts seem to arrive uninvited—this essay is for you.

Read the new essay here

As always, thank you for following along.

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