The Deeper Thinkers

Deep thinking is thinking about profound topics or profoundly thinking about things that might not be that deep ...... oh this may be getting too deep for me ....let me post this and think some more

“Are there degrees of depth in deep thinking?”

Yes, the first degree is called a BS. This is sometimes known as Bull Sh*t.

The next degree is called an MS. This is just More of Same.

And then we have the ultimate degree: a PhD. This is just Piled higher and Deeper.

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You do ask the tough questions. The previous post was relatively easy compared to your add ons.

1. “What Is Deep thinking?"

The qualifying word, Deep, implies that deep thinking is something greater than just thinking. Without a scale or a definition it is not possible to explain what deep is---at this point anyway. My babbling below will help.

2. “With what are we contrasting it by calling it “deep”?" We are contrasting it with basic thinking. Deep would imply that we have given it much more thought than normal knee-jerk thinking and probably have done some research to support a reasonable "deep" thinking definition.

3. “Are there degrees of depth in deep thinking?” In other words is some deep thinking deeper than others? For it to make sense, there should be degrees. I imagine a likert type of scale. It would range like this---no thinking, very shallow thinking, basic thinking, deep thinking, deeper thinking, and deepest thinking.

4. “How do we know when we are engaged in deep thinking?” Is it intuited, observed, or told to us by others? There is no greater endorsement than being told something positive from those whose opinions you trust. Additionally, a wise person in command of all the facts probably knows his/her deep thinking intuitively.

Your questions and my answers, make me wonder what my activity in the Deep Thinkers Post is all about. Searching, maybe you are the only one that engages in deep thinking---at least by my own definition.

1. "What is Deep thinking"
analytical, to disect a thought again and again, chasing down each subsiquent thought, to find the absolute truth.
2. "With what are we contrasting it by calling it "deep"?
The superficial reality you are confronted with. The step before deep thinking.
3. "Are there degrees of depth in deep thinking"?
I believe so. Depending on the complexity of the subject, or the simplicity of the mind.
4. "How do we know when we are engaged in deep thinking?" Yeah, somebody just got to say "Man, you're strange".

And that thar's my guess ya'll.

1. “What Is Deep thinking?"

As with intelligence, depth of thought can express itself in myriad ways. I can only say how it manifests in me. I recall, as an adolescent, sitting at the kitchen table, reading in the newspaper of some horrific crime. I wanted to know why. What events in the perpetrator’s life had led him to the moment where he made the choice to follow such a drastic . . . irreversible . . . course?

So, I would say that . . . for me . . . deep thinking has been a quest for “Why?”

2. “With what are we contrasting it by calling it “deep”?"

Of course, the obvious answer is “shallow;” but I doubt that that’s what you seek.

Since “deep” has multiple manifestations, so would its antonym. And, again, I can only give what would be contrasted with my form of depth. That would be viewing the world in pairs of opposites. For such a mindset, the “why” would be because s/he is ‘evil.’ ‘Nuff said.

3. “Are there degrees of depth in deep thinking?” In other words is some deep thinking deeper than others?

No. By definition, “deep thinking” involves probing the depths . . . until the lowest common denominator is reached. Thought either stops short, in which case it isn’t “deep;” or it follows through, until the thinker reaches his/her personal omega.

4. “How do we know when we are engaged in deep thinking?” Is it intuited, observed, or told to us by others?

I imagine that we all acquire our concept of words and ideas from those who instruct/model for us . . . parents, teachers . . . I know I have. I see no reason for this to be different. Therefore, in most cases, someone, long ago, probably characterized our thought processes as “deep.”

As an actor, I’ve been told that I have “presence.” The first time I was told that, I wasn’t sure what “presence” was. No one ever quite defined it for me, but eventually I got a sense of what that quality is. I have since used the term in reference to other actors.

or when does "being deep" just settle into just B.S.?
yichel

One element to deeper thinking that has not yet been mentioned is that deeper thinking also invites creativity and new ideas. It also can produce insight into relatedness of concepts or ideas. To me, deeper thinking can invoke an out-of-the-box response to the thought being considered. Deeper thinking is a way for newness to be birthed into the world. It is also a way to take thoughts or ideas and present them in a new or different way. Deeper thinking also has a hand in problem solving, along with intuition.

Deep Thinking is so simple that it becomes complicated, and so complicated it becomes simple. At least it does for me.

I wasn’t going to respond, but on second thought… (OK, bad joke)

1. “What Is Deep thinking?”

As I said, I wasn’t going to respond but I think I have been there. At times in my past career I have been so involved with finding a solution that people claim they had to try to interrupt me several times to get my attention, and usually I jumped a foot out of my chair when that happened.

2. “With what are we contrasting it by calling it “deep”?”

It’s a strange feeling to know that you were that far gone in “thinking” and you were completely unaware of your surroundings. (or the phone)

3. “Are there degrees of depth in deep thinking?” In other words is some deep thinking deeper than others?

Absolutely… it didn’t always go that far—and on some less important problems or less interesting problems I could sometime work on more then one at a time

4. “How do we know when we are engaged in deep thinking?” Is it intuited, observed, or told to us by others?

I had no idea I was there, if no one came to get me, sometimes found myself in the office at midnight wondering why I was hungry. (I don’t do that no ‘mo.)

I think it is really interesting to talk about deep thinking in terms of the physical aspect rather than in metaphysical form.

LLL's description of his state of awareness of his physical surroundings as a of the depth of his thought is a fascinating departure.

So, LLL, if one's degree of awareness of the current world around one is the measure of one's depth of thought, what does that say for someone engaged in meditation, where one goes 'somewhere else'? Or for someone asleep? Or for someone simply daydreaming? Are people engaged in those states thinking deeply?