Thought, Reasoning, and the Origins of Human Cognition

Introduction: The Origins of Thought

Since René Descartes wrote "I think, therefore I am," philosophers have considered the meaning, origin, and function of cognitive thought (Newman, 2014). Thinking in itself appears to be proof of one's own existence. Self-consciousness — the awareness that one is thinking — offers indelible proof of a higher order of thought. Yet paradoxically, thoughts also seem to arise seemingly unbidden from the recesses of the mind. The sources of thought have been attributed to everything from God to nothingness (Hauser, 2009). Moreover, the sources of individualized thought processes are related to socialization and acculturation as well as to innate sensations and belief systems. There are some trends of human cognition that may be universal, and others that are instilled through social norms.

Understanding the ways thought processes work is one of the most important aspects of being human. "Thinking is the extraordinary process we use every waking moment to make sense of our world and lives" (Chaffee, 2004, p. 2). Faulty thinking can lead to problems ranging from mental illness and miscommunication to superstition and logical fallacy. Clarifying one's thought processes can eliminate or minimize these problems. Furthermore, understanding more about the origin of thought processes can help reduce interpersonal friction, because the more we recognize the origin of our own beliefs, the more we can see that others likewise developed their beliefs from their families or cultures.

Language, Culture, and the Shaping of Belief

As Engel (2000) points out, language may be a source of thought and feeling as well as the means of expressing those thoughts and feelings. Research into linguistics and the diversity of cultures reveals astonishing connections between the ways people conceptualize reality through language and the ways people think about the world. "Thought is actually shaped by the language in which it is conducted" (Engel, 2000, p. 61). Because language is intimately tied to culture, it is clear that culture and socialization constitute one of the most important — if not the single most important — influence on thought and emotion. The differences between individuals are therefore due more to nurture than to nature, more to environment than to individual biology. It is not that there is no absolute reality, but that perceptions of that reality vary so widely as to make it appear that there can be little common ground.

Strong opinions and beliefs are thoughts that have become linked to feelings or emotions, demonstrating that reasoned thinking and emotional sensation are connected. Descartes could have just as well said, "I think, therefore I feel." B. F. Skinner's (1989) research on human psychology shows that behaviors are linked to thoughts and feelings that have become internalized, which is why it becomes critical to examine root thoughts and feelings before engaging in a process of behavioral change. While the internalization or automation of thought has a valid function in making our lives efficient, there are certainly drawbacks to operating reflexively. As Chaffee (2004) points out, the "examined life" is one that can be more productive and fruitful than a life lived unconsciously. Bad habits and other destructive behaviors may be traced to faulty thoughts or irrational emotions. The essence of cognitive-behavioral and other psychological therapies is that changing one's thoughts can lead to shifts in feeling and behavior. The practice of mindfulness can reveal patterns of thought that give rise to uncomfortable emotions or irrational behaviors.

The sources of the ways one personally thinks and feels include brain chemistry, genetics, personality, socialization, and culture. The nature-versus-nurture debate pertains to the sources of thought because each person thinks and feels according to both environmental factors like culture and individual differences due to brain chemistry or personality. Both nature and nurture are responsible for generating a person's thoughts and feelings. This is why siblings might think and feel differently from one another even when they share the same environmental exposures in terms of parental and societal influences — they are also neurologically and temperamentally distinct.

Because each person holds a unique set of worldviews and beliefs, it may be tempting to conclude that reality is relative. Yet it is far more likely that everyone looks at reality from a different angle while the reality itself remains shared, concrete, and absolute. If there were no concrete and absolute truth, science would not be a valid human endeavor. Science exists to demonstrate that absolute measurements point to immutable truths. Feelings and perceptions may be fleeting and variable, but measurable facts are not. Knowing that there are different ways of viewing reality, it is important to ground what one claims to "know" in the language of science and mathematics. The observable measures of reality can be communicated across different points of view.

Reasoning as Mental Architecture

Reasoning is a method of thinking or type of thought process. Unlike emotions or emotional responses, reasoning is relatively systematic and relies on logic (Palmquist, n.d.). Moreover, reasoning almost by definition depends on detaching critical thought from intuition or feeling. In spite of the seemingly scientific nature of reasoning, two people can argue about the same topic and arrive at different conclusions through different means. Differences in reasoning are linked to worldview and belief system, because the process of reasoning depends on underlying values and assumptions. In order to reach the same conclusion about an issue, two people need to begin with the same premises, use the same types of reasoning processes, and avoid logical fallacies (Chaffee, 2004). As Engel (2000) also points out, differences in language or linguistic heritage can further impact the ways people use reasoning to think critically about the world.

Palmquist (n.d.) notes that reasoning is a type of mental architecture. The philosopher Kant presented a view of human thought processes as structural in nature. Each thought is supported by or connected to other thoughts, and people eventually develop cognitive frameworks. Thus, hundreds of people may live on the same block but in different houses. People who live in houses built from the same materials and according to the same blueprints will tend to think in similar ways, while those who live in radically different structures will perceive and interact with their environments differently. All persons use reasoning, but people employ different aspects of the reasoning process and apply reasoning at different times. For example, a religious person may suspend logical reasoning when discussing matters of faith.