Buddhists, for example, believe that their can be right action (ethics or morals), but that there can also be "right" thinking. By thought hygiene, I mean healthful practices for thinking.
2007-06-26 14:33:26 · 18 answers · asked by guru 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The issue is comparable to a notion of "moral thought" or "ethical thinking".
2007-06-26 14:46:09 · update #1
The word "should" forces me to answer in the negative.
If people want to think "hygienically" that is their business. But no one "should" HAVE to think in any particular way.
However, if all people are taught right from wrong from the moment of birth, this world would then have found a way to allow everyone to live comfortably, at peace, and without having to murder someone just because they don't agree with them.
Now, that is a thought I can suggest we could all think about more often. What is Right and What is Wrong. Break it down to the most basic. And then, do the right thing.
Peace --- it's contagious and far more life expanding than the alternative.
2007-06-26 14:46:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Most cultures have this, although the principles vary from culture to culture.
In the West, "right" thinking is based on ancient Greek ideas of logic, although influenced heavily by systems from India and the Middle East, and developed significantly through the 18th century "enlightenment".
A practical modern example of "thought hygiene" is cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, which aims to identify logical and other fallacies and common misapprehensions of perception, and train people to recognise and avoid such patterns. It can be very helpful in some conditions such as anxiety disorders.
In a broader sense, though hygiene ought to focus on the processes, rather than the content, of thought: teach kids how to think, not what to think.
2007-06-26 22:24:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you can't wash your mind out with soap. You can't help a stray thought that enters here & there but you should try to control your thinking to some degree & not entertain bad thoughts (violent, immoral or otherwise disturbing thoughts). Thought often leads to action. It has power over how you feel, what you do & who you become. Negative thinking creates unhappiness and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Positive thinking creates happiness and makes good things happen. So cultivate good thoughts & control bad ones & have a better life....
2007-06-26 21:58:23 · answer #3 · answered by amp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having wasted most of my life thinking junk thoughts that led nowhere, I have recently decided to clean out my own thoughts. How much of our precious time do we spend whining about how hard everything is, when in fact the cause of our hardship is generally our own lazines.
Yes, I think we can and should control our thoughts. There are ways to do this--reading, for example.
2007-06-26 22:19:35 · answer #4 · answered by Austin W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you use the analogy of hygience, let me continue the thought along those lines. The aim of bodily hygiene is to cleanse the body or oral cavity or what not from debris, dust, dead skin cells, bacteria, and foreign particles in order to allow regeneration of skin cells/mucosal cells, etc. The aim of mental hygiene ought to accomplish similar goals.
As you word it, "thought hygiene" ought to clarify, eliminate confusion, and order logic for clear execution of thoughts and ideas. The PROCESS needs to be without congestion and debris, otherwise, you get crap coming out.
Hygiene on thought is in nature different from hygiene on physical body. Thought is elusive. What you were thinking precisely one hour ago isn't so clear anymore (depending on your state of mind or possible influences: another thought, conversation, alcohol, drugs, whatever).
Thought isn't static. So a "right" thought one moment was the right one for the moment but a wrong one for the next moment.
The best manifestation of thought hygiene is executing one's thoughts in the precise manner one wants it executed. There is clarity, focus, and elaboration of one's points in lucidity for the one making the points and the listener.
2007-06-26 21:54:23 · answer #5 · answered by Pansy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean do I believe if there is a "right" way to look at something? If so, no I do not. There are an infinite amount of ways to look at one thing, and just because they are different than each other does not make them wrong.
If that isn't what you mean, then sorry, I do not understand your question.
2007-06-26 21:42:13 · answer #6 · answered by greencoke 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists are playing with your mind, and that's "muddling" the mind which is the opposite of thought hygiene.
2007-06-26 21:38:48 · answer #7 · answered by kNOTaLIAwyR 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
All things must be considered. Just because it is thought does not mean that it must be acted upon. How else is "wrong" thinking to be corrected? In this consideration, it must be born in mind the relativeness of "right" and "wrong".
2007-06-26 21:41:37 · answer #8 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yeah, completely. but maybe that's because i'm buddhist. and people tend to think the way their religion is setup because that's how their minds were molded. thinking is how we get through life, we should train our minds daily.
2007-06-26 22:07:31 · answer #9 · answered by Sheeenaxoxox 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually think we need more 'left' thinking.
Yes, of course, you can train your mind to think better and some Buddhists do this very well, but even they have to be able to think outside of their very large box.
2007-06-26 21:38:15 · answer #10 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋