Stanford, an intellectually engaging idea.

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.


What are thoughts? Are they mere concoctions of the mind? Are they just signals we send out and receive? Are they limited to the conscious?
Unfortunately, mankind is currently not in a position to provide concrete answers to these questions. Fortunately though, we are able to come up with theories and opinions that may one day lead to the truth. I for one have read and studied the intricacies of the human mind, body and soul and have come to find that human thoughts especially are distinctly unique. I have derived my opinions mostly from my own experiences and Hindu teachings, but I have come to find that thoughts can be explained in lieu of the spiritual context. Thoughts seem to carry us throughout our lives, and surprisingly enough connect us to the people closest to us. Sometimes, the connection can be shared by strangers. It really depends on the frequencies and nature of our thoughts.
My grandaunt recently shared a story with me, one that sparked further interest on the issue of how thoughts work. My great grandfather died tragically while drowning about 35 years ago. One day prior to his death, my grandaunt's then husband who was away in Australia experienced a very strange dream. My great grandfather appeared in front of him, telling him that he was going to go away and that he wanted to make sure his daughter was well taken care of. My grandaunt's husband later described that the dream almost felt real and eerie-like, as if my great grandfather had actually paid him a visit in person. Following my great grandfather's death, my grandaunt received a letter from her husband, who retold the incident. The postmark date was the exact same date her father had died. Who could explain this? It is my opinion that our brainwaves collectively form a worldwide channel, one that transports messages from the sender to the recipient; kind of like an invisible e-mail messaging system. Twins have been said to experience this connection, probably because they are already born with one, constantly channelling wave patterns of the same frequencies. However, I do not think this connection is limited to twins alone, for perhaps the rest of us do not quite know how to use this channel just yet. Perhaps people like my great grandfather, did. I am of the opinion that it is indeed an art that one acquires only through deep study and understanding of the human mind.
Thoughts are eternal. They are not created when we are born; neither do they fade when we die. My grandmother once told me that as child of about three, I had asked my mother why she hit her stomach when I was inside her and that it hurt. The hits actually came from my father, who was abusive to her while she was pregnant. At the age of three, how could I have remembered something from the womb? Are children not supposed to develop a fully working memory only after infancy? The answer to this question is again tied back to the fact that thoughts are collective and when they disperse to join new life forms, they remain active. I believe that a child is born with a fully-working mind, and is aware of his surroundings due to the experience thoughts have with the ways of the world. Perhaps this is also how we are able to communicate through the channel of thought. Our thoughts share similar frequencies, for they all come from the same source. Hence, we become connected.
While it is only an idea, it is one to be considered. Thoughts may be concoctions, but not of the mind. They are indeed signals that we project on a global scale. However, the question of whether thoughts are limited to the conscious requires a little more studying on my part. To me, that is a different issue altogether.




I know this is very long but its currently still a draft. Im sure Kevin will love this one ;)

Very interesting essay, with excellent examples in the body paragraphs. The first paragraph, though, up until you mention your grandmother, is a bit too abstract. Terms like "thought," "mind," and "consciousness" are dangerous terms to bandy about even for the strongest thinkers, and should probably always be rooted in concrete examples. (See Daniel C. Dennett, for example). you might want to shorten or eliminate the opening, so as to get to the strongest parts sooner.

Alright, will do! Thanks.

I think I am just going to get rid of the first and last paragraphs. Ill start with the second instead. As it is, its ridiculously long and the two body paragraphs pretty much sum up my point.

Any comments?

Don't forget to indent the paragraphs :)

I think your idea about it is pretty good, but there's something that's a little bit not right.

I wrote this essay as well and my first draft was like yours, we have a common problem: you take this idea of yours to be way too serious. You said people develop theories about them and how some of them stand true from your point of view. and I did the same.

my suggestion is try not to make them seem this is something you develope and you strongly believe it's true. That's why i keeping writing words like in my opinion, from my point of view, i believe, blahblahblah. I think you should try this too.

Good Advice Angela! Thanks!