Thoughts on thinking

Auguste Rodin depicted his famous bronze sculpture called The

Thinker sitting with his chin resting on his hand in an appearance of deep thought. It is said that Gautama, or Buddha, spent six years doing little else except sitting and thinking before his so-called “enlightenment” came to him, which might be summed up in two words: want less, which is pretty much the same philosophy taught by others such as Jesus and Thoreau. Some enlightenment! Personally, I think a brisk walk is more conducive to clear thinking than just sitting.

Professor of psychology Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking,

Fast and Slow, divides our thinking process into two systems. System 1 is, in my words (not his), our kneejerk reactions to events. Thinking that is, in Kahneman’s words, automatic, with little “voluntary control” such as detecting “hostility in a voice.” System 2 requires mental effort such as monitoring “the appropriateness of your behavior in a social situation” and requires a little time to kick in.

Unfortunately, deadly conflicts happen all too often where, it seems to me, one or more participants never get out of System 1. I believe this gives new credence to the old adage, “count to 10 before you act” or react. Possibly that was what Jesus had in mind when he told his followers to turn the other cheek. In other words, be willing to take a second blow to give System 2 time to kick in.

If only more people would learn this technique, maybe, just maybe, there would be fewer headline-grabbing tragedies. JOHN McPHERSON

Searcy