h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Are thinking and feeling the same thing?
If not what do we feel with?

I'd say no, thinking and feeling are not the same thing but they overlap!

Hi Hasslefree !

Always with the interesting questions already .

As a first thought I'd say that thinking is a product of the conscious intellect and feeling (as in emotions rather than nervous response to stimuli?) is a product of the spirit.

For instance I think that Andrea Bocelli's rendition of 'Conte Partiro' is well sung. I cannot understand a word of it as it is in italian (even the title), however, it frequently moves me to tears....

Blessings,
Matholwch the Wuss /|\.

Math
Yes that was what I was thinking.
We can see various places in the brain that we do our physical thinking with, and we do that in words.
Feelings don't seem to have words attached.
So I wonder if that is why sometimes it is hard to express a feeling in words, and why we have to resort to metaphor.
In fact, when we talk about hearing voices in our heads, that is exactly what everyone does, rather than a indication of insanity.
We don't hear voices in our legs.
When I think, I do it with words, and the words sound in my mind like a voice.
But feelings are something else entirely and perhaps evidence of a spirit.
Thoughts lead to feelings, and so do overlap as Della says and feelings lead to thoughts, but I think they are two different things.
Therefor if we act on feelings rather than thoughts, would this be acting from the spirit, or just plain thoughtless ?!

PS
I'll ask my husband for translation. He's Italian.

Feeling affects thought; thought affects feeling.

But we mainly act on feeling.

This is why thoughtful contemplation at times when we are not being called on to act is so important; It's what integrates the two.

Noggin

Noggin
I think this way, and it's a bit in disagreement with you
I think we don't act on our feelings enough.
I believe that we can have a feeling about something and think our way out of it.
We/I apply logic and thought to a feeling and then sometimes don't act it out.
Thought can get in the way of modern man.
Feelings could be intuitive, I suppose.
Do feelings come from the subconscious? Is the subconscious the 'home' of our spirit?
Certainly the subconscious has no 'voice' like the conscious, but has to 'communicate' with us in a different way. Dreams, feelings, deja vue, coincidence, that odd recognition of things that we shouldn't be able to recognise.

Good night everyone

Could be Hass. It's a *very* complex subject.

BUT My feelings can be in conflict with each other; some choice still has to be made.

Emotional feeling and that partly subconscious 'feeling' that such and such is the right thing to do are not the same thing.

Ultimately thought is in the service of feeling, but one of its services is to think through whether certain of our feelings are justified or helpful.

What I was trying to argue was that the various parts of our psychology should be integrated rather than dissociated, but for different people the balance will be different.

Patterns of neural activity during meditation (or even quiet contemplation) suggest that such integration carried on below the level of awareness may be one of it's major benefits. And there is some evidence that it works best if one has previously given some conscious thought to some problem.

Anyway, have a good Christmas.

Noggin

In my perception, thoughts (words) take time, but feelings are instant. That maybe why we act on feelings without thought, cos it's easier.

Yes, and if you hit your thumb with a hammer you don't half exclaim the name of George Bush.

Thinking can be a form of training for feelings (and vice versa).
In an emergency you want to do the RIGHT thing without further thought, not the wrong thing.

I suppose if you're not using all the components of your mind/spirit you're not firing on all cylinders, so to speak.

Noggin

Excellent noggin