3 ms·

What is the difference? I disagree, I don't know many people who appear to introspect at all. I read that and think that your concept of meditation and my conc

by Radix 17y ago

What is the difference? I disagree, I don't know many people who appear to introspect at all. I read that and think that your concept of meditation and my concept of introspection are probably more similar than our ideas of meditation. [edit: Honest question I am pointing out that the parent might not disagree with those who tout introspection, as they may share semantics for different words.]

roqetman 17y ago
My understanding is Introspection is the analysis of ones own thoughts. Meditation is simply being still and seeing things as they really are, understanding that thoughts are just thoughts, just as the floor is just the floor.
mburney 17y ago
I mostly agree with roqetman's definition and I will add that my definition of introspection extends to the analysis of one's self in general. Analyzing oneself is often fraught with self-deception as we can only analyze ourselves using categories that are limited to our finite experience. This doesn't mean it is waste of time, but it carries the danger of us deducing way too many ungrounded truths about ourselves. Meditation on the other hand I view as a letting go of this kind of analysis.
- Radix 17y ago
  Thanks, my concept of introspection borders on meditation. Looking at an idea detached to see it as it is. Then feeding that back into my thoughts on what is good or bad, or whatever may be troubling me. Though I admit, I have taken it too far in the circular non-direction before breaking out before. But that's what I used to enjoy about introspection. Once you found a circle in your reasoning it gives you an opportunity to step out and examine what is causing you to reason in circles. Thus allowing you to glimpse the restrictions of your categories. Thanks for pointing out the danger of categorizing within our experiences. That is a much more pressing fault to me. (I knew the definitions in theory, but I questioned them in practice; I don't meditate.) [edit: You know, after watching the TED speech on success, and a bit of introspection, I see where you are coming from. Introspection has pulled me out of a depression, but it has also contributed to my high difficulty relating to other people. I guess I just reacted to the phrase "'highly' overrated". Which just reinforces my thought that most non-measurable disagreements between people are a failure to communicate effectively.]
  - mburney 17y ago
    You make some good points. Before I started doing meditation, I often practiced the kind of introspection you are describing. I still do sometimes, but not as much as before. I find that it really does help in gaining a sense of self and it is also empowering, so I can relate to how it pulled you out of depression. But as you mentioned, it can make a person way too analytical about everything and therefore hard to relate to others. I think it is very good for creating works of art or hacking but for me it hinders being able to just relax and "feel the vibe" especially in social settings. Meditation, I find, creates for me the much needed balance. Nice to have a normal discussion on here as opposed to the flamefests all over the web, HN is very cool!

by Radix 17y ago

roqetman 17y ago

My understanding is Introspection is the analysis of ones own thoughts. Meditation is simply being still and seeing things as they really are, understanding that thoughts are just thoughts, just as the floor is just the floor.

mburney 17y ago

I mostly agree with roqetman's definition and I will add that my definition of introspection extends to the analysis of one's self in general. Analyzing oneself is often fraught with self-deception as we can only analyze ourselves using categories that are limited to our finite experience. This doesn't mean it is waste of time, but it carries the danger of us deducing way too many ungrounded truths about ourselves. Meditation on the other hand I view as a letting go of this kind of analysis.

Radix 17y ago
Thanks, my concept of introspection borders on meditation. Looking at an idea detached to see it as it is. Then feeding that back into my thoughts on what is good or bad, or whatever may be troubling me. Though I admit, I have taken it too far in the circular non-direction before breaking out before. But that's what I used to enjoy about introspection. Once you found a circle in your reasoning it gives you an opportunity to step out and examine what is causing you to reason in circles. Thus allowing you to glimpse the restrictions of your categories. Thanks for pointing out the danger of categorizing within our experiences. That is a much more pressing fault to me. (I knew the definitions in theory, but I questioned them in practice; I don't meditate.) [edit: You know, after watching the TED speech on success, and a bit of introspection, I see where you are coming from. Introspection has pulled me out of a depression, but it has also contributed to my high difficulty relating to other people. I guess I just reacted to the phrase "'highly' overrated". Which just reinforces my thought that most non-measurable disagreements between people are a failure to communicate effectively.]
- mburney 17y ago
  You make some good points. Before I started doing meditation, I often practiced the kind of introspection you are describing. I still do sometimes, but not as much as before. I find that it really does help in gaining a sense of self and it is also empowering, so I can relate to how it pulled you out of depression. But as you mentioned, it can make a person way too analytical about everything and therefore hard to relate to others. I think it is very good for creating works of art or hacking but for me it hinders being able to just relax and "feel the vibe" especially in social settings. Meditation, I find, creates for me the much needed balance. Nice to have a normal discussion on here as opposed to the flamefests all over the web, HN is very cool!