Complex Thought or Complexity of Thinking

A 17th Century French thinker named Renee Descarte, who is claimed to be the father of Modern Pholosophy, examined this very question. He noted "I think, therefore I am, or I am thinking, therefore I exist" (part IV of Discourse on the Method), as a solution to understanding whether or not we can determine if we are alive. But all animals think and it is no measure of intellect but it most certainly does indicate that one has a brain and is alive.

But the question is how do we use that brain and what can it do for us in the course of our being alive?

From birth to death we are in a cocoon determined by our environment. If we are isolated and dominated we are likely to be withdrawn, ignorant, uninformed and, at the very least, intolerant to outside influences. If, on the other hand we are exposed to learning, other societies and people, travel and knowledge we will likely be outgoing, opinionated (of varying degrees) , confident and useful The more learning we undertake the more self assurance and confidence we will acquire.

So to fit into this criteria we have to prepare ourselves through discipline that involves learning and above all research. That would entail courses and reading, Anyone can do it and be properly informed on any subject. Such attention to this should occur on a daily basis.
The image of Descartes is from Wikipedia

This company will welcome you "If you tire of the insanity in our world, want to be a better and healthier person, feel despair, suspect that there is more to this drama called life than the mere interaction of atoms, are confused by notions of creation, evolution, religion, atheism, and immortality, and would like rational answers that accord with reality and satisfy your intellect and intuition"

My sister when asked by me how she knows that she is alive said because she feels pain. But what is pain? It is the conduction of awareness of a symptom within the body to the brain via the nervous system in an effort to correct the problem or relieve pressure to help resolve it. That's my definition anyway. For this to happen nerves must be present and functional. But there are many cases where nerves are damaged, such as when the spinal cord is severed, and the relevant parts of the body no longer connected via the brain network continue to live on. There is no sensation, however, of pain or any other form of stimulation.

We also feel joy, pleasure, contentment, sorrow, and a myriad of other emotions. The key to all these feelings is, of course, nerves and they may be the factor that determines whether someone is alive.

That leaves us with the conclusion that in order to feel what is happening to our bodies the brain is the key. We might now be able to change Descartes exclamation to "I feel, therefore I am". But parts that cannot feel continue to live as long as there is a blood supply. Is the blood the key to knowing whether we are alive? Should it be ""I bleed, therefore, I am".

But many things are alive and active that have no blood, as we know it. The smallest life forms, bacteria, amoeba, algae, and so on, have no blood. Nor, we might add, do worms, grubs, flies, beetles, and other insects. So what gives them life? Do these things have a heart? Mostly we can answer no because they have no circulation. What about snails and fish, snakes and alligators? What keeps them alive and how do they know what to eat, where they are going, how to function and so on? Do they have a brain? Or are they governed by the environment, magnetic attraction, smell, taste, and so on.

Organised insect colonies, such as bees, ants, termites, and so on, run their lives with perfect order and a highly sophisticated political system. At the head is the queen. But does she rule or does the colony rule her? It seems like workers have an agenda that no matter what the queen might do or want they are in control. They gather food, feed their young, take eggs into a nursery situation and determine what eggs will be workers and which ones will turn into queens or drones. In other words these small short lived slaves are really the bosses. They are alive and active, great community providers and they work on nothing but smell, feel and taste, that we can see.

But underneath there is something else. Its called instinct. Every creature born has instinct. First it is to survive, then it is to create the right living conditions, after this to earn a living and finally to breed. Is this how we determine whether or not we are alive?

Everywhere you look these days there is information and places to learn. With philosophical questions like this lens proposes one needs to know how to resolve it with more than just your own thinking powers. So what do the experts have to say? Have you ever read books on philosophy? They are fascinating and take the twists and turns that help to get to the bottom of such a puzzle.

But books do more than that. They allow expression of opinions in all areas with an input of fascinating ideas and situations that your brain can jump into and enjoy. They are a gymnasium of tools for it to exercise and grow strong. They help to build your confidence and respect for yourself, to give you self worth and the knowledge and power to defend yourself.

They not only tell you about the world as it is but about the fanciful situations that it could be if such and such were to occur. They are a minefield of interesting quirks and perks that send sparks of enthusiasm and intrigue into your system. Unlike the normal stimulation from your personal life they help to develop strong emotions and balance out our sense of right and wrong.

Books are the answer to many problems. They remove the idleness that kills brain power. They increase the brain's ability to overcome problems like minor pains and upsets. They give you alternatives to life's many crazy curves and they bring joy, entertainment and happiness to those who indulge.

No longer do you need to buy books as you can now rent them online for a fraction of their value. Don't queue up at libraries or bookstall but browse the catalog in your lounge chair at home before making a selection. This company has over 200,000 titles

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Every parent knows that the earlier a child begins to read and recognise everyday symbols and sounds the greater the chances of success in later life. That's why flash cards have come into being and other educational programs that aid parents in this quest.

Children are often portrayed in the media who are so far advanced at early ages that they become celebrities. One child of 2 recently featured on Australian television could name the capital cities of every country in the world. Mozart, at the age of 3 wrote his first symphony. Other children can go straight from kindergarten to High School and some complete university studies when their peers are graduating from college.

What makes a child so brilliant? Surely there is more to the story than early education. Yes, I believe that children carry knowledge from one life to the next, as happened in my case. This knowledge allows for great adaptability without much learning at all but the mind still needs the resources to get the input that will shine through. This is where parents can play a great role in early childhood intervention.

Do you really know how much your child is taking in. Snuggle up and start reading because children as young as a few months old will appreciate the pictures, the sounds, the images and the closeness of a parent during this special time. Read more about teaching babies to read by clicking the banner



One of my biggest handicaps was understanding what non English speakers were saying. Now that is not a worry because I learned many languages and greatly improved my understanding and knowledge of countries and people

What better gift for a child than a book specially written for her/him. Of course that is not really the case but with personalised books it almost seems like it is. From school books to comics, from scrapbooks to novels, from stationery to personalised music. Its all here. Give a child a real treat with any one of these sweet treats


Kids love the excitement and images of comic books. Drama and hope, bad versus good, the unimaginable turned into reality and the sheer joy of the creative pictures work on a child's mind. They teach not only reading but style, art, and focusing on a subject for longer. They also add a different dimension to the emotions and creative discussions that children engage in with peers. Its all magic but its all good fun. This well respected company also sells toys and other things

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