Thinking as instrumental

Pantagruel March 11, 2021 at 20:12 2550 views 7 comments

...we do not think in order to think anymore than we walk in order to walk or sleep in order to sleep.
~Sydney Hook, The Metaphysics of Pragmatism, Ch 2: Thinking as instrumental

Comments (7)

baker March 20, 2021 at 09:50 #512532 0 likes

Reply to Pantagruel Of course. Thinking is a means to an end.

180 Proof March 20, 2021 at 21:49 #512742 0 likes

Every capability is instrumental. More interesting to ponder is whether or not thinking is merely instrumental or something else besides – more than – instrumental.

baker March 21, 2021 at 09:12 #512916 0 likes

Reply to 180 Proof Such as?

Valentinus March 21, 2021 at 21:41 #513174 0 likes

Reply to baker
And what is that end?
Sounds like that will require some thought.

Sir2u March 22, 2021 at 03:25 #513362 0 likes

The idea of the brain, by Matthew Cobb.

Talks about all of the weird ideas that have been thought up about how the brain works. How the hell they used to come up with the ideas is difficult to imagine.

baker March 22, 2021 at 10:37 #513416 0 likes

Reply to Valentinus Before I set out to bake something, I need to think it though. As such, thinking is instrumental.

Pantagruel March 23, 2021 at 12:39 #513782 0 likes

So thinking about thinking is equivalent thinking about the nature of instrumentality I guess. The concept of the "tool" as something mediate between thought and objective reality is interesting.