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What does it even mean to modify a subconscious thought? The notion of a subconscious thought is contradictory. I am increasingly drawn to the idea that there

What does it even mean to modify a subconscious thought? The notion of a subconscious thought is contradictory. I am increasingly drawn to the idea that there is no difference between the so called conscious and subconscious mind. It seems more natural for me to think that experience literally is processing millions of tiny things at the same time. The idea is still muddy but the concept of a level of abstraction observing itself seems very compelling to me. Douglas Hofstadter explores this concept in his book "I Am a Strange Loop".

alchemism 11y ago
If I offered you bites of savoury meat, and halfway through the meal announced that you were eating my beloved horse (or dog...) would you get nausious? A visceral reaction caused by cultural programming (e.g. taboos against consuming the flesh of certain animals) is a great example of subconscious thought.
- bweitzman 11y ago
  I'm not sure I agree, it seems like more the absence of any thought is replaced by an unpleasant thought. It's not as if our subconscious is constantly churning unbeknownst to us over how the meat that we are eating is non horse meat.
  - MacsHeadroom 11y ago
    >It's not as if our subconscious is constantly churning unbeknownst to us over how the meat that we are eating is non horse meat. Actually, that is exactly what your subconscious does. You are literally thinking vocal thoughts to yourself constantly. You could be having a conversation at the dinner table while your subconscious mind vocally (internally) remarks about the colour of someone's tie and the taste of the meat you're eating all at the same time. You don't usually hear these thoughts or realize that you're thinking them. Through meditation anyone can come to hear the actual vocal versions of these subconscious streams of thought. Psychotropic drugs can help too.
    - bweitzman 11y ago
      > You don't usually hear these thoughts or realize that you're thinking them. So we can't sense them, but they exist? Seems questionable to me. > Through meditation anyone can come to hear the actual vocal versions of these subconscious streams of thought. Isn't it possible that meditation isn't "unlocking" our subconscious but rather just changing the process by which we think consciously? A thought is something that is brought about by thinking, and thinking is something that is done consciously. A subconscious thought is a contradiction.
      - MacsHeadroom 11y ago
        >thinking is something that is done consciously. A subconscious thought is a contradiction. That is a ridiculous assertion. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22subconscious+thought%22 https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22subconscious+t...
alchemism 11y ago
If I offered you bites of savoury meat, and halfway through the meal announced that you were eating my beloved horse (or dog...) would you get nausious? A visceral reaction caused by cultural programming (e.g. taboos against consuming the flesh of certain animals) is a great example of subconscious thought.
bitcuration 11y ago
the book "slow, fast thinking" explored this concept well thoroughly. It's not myth anymore human has both thought. it seems it's more than an simple abstraction on subconscious, it's almost another brain is watching the animal brain of you. I believe this effect is the additional cortex layer made us experienced.
- bweitzman 11y ago
  I will have to check it out, thanks for the tip! It's not that I don't think we have a "subconscious thought", it's just that I don't think it's reasonable to call it thought if it's not fully conscious. This is an issue of semantics, not neuroscience.

alchemism 11y ago

If I offered you bites of savoury meat, and halfway through the meal announced that you were eating my beloved horse (or dog...) would you get nausious? A visceral reaction caused by cultural programming (e.g. taboos against consuming the flesh of certain animals) is a great example of subconscious thought.

bweitzman 11y ago
I'm not sure I agree, it seems like more the absence of any thought is replaced by an unpleasant thought. It's not as if our subconscious is constantly churning unbeknownst to us over how the meat that we are eating is non horse meat.
- MacsHeadroom 11y ago
  >It's not as if our subconscious is constantly churning unbeknownst to us over how the meat that we are eating is non horse meat. Actually, that is exactly what your subconscious does. You are literally thinking vocal thoughts to yourself constantly. You could be having a conversation at the dinner table while your subconscious mind vocally (internally) remarks about the colour of someone's tie and the taste of the meat you're eating all at the same time. You don't usually hear these thoughts or realize that you're thinking them. Through meditation anyone can come to hear the actual vocal versions of these subconscious streams of thought. Psychotropic drugs can help too.
  - bweitzman 11y ago
    > You don't usually hear these thoughts or realize that you're thinking them. So we can't sense them, but they exist? Seems questionable to me. > Through meditation anyone can come to hear the actual vocal versions of these subconscious streams of thought. Isn't it possible that meditation isn't "unlocking" our subconscious but rather just changing the process by which we think consciously? A thought is something that is brought about by thinking, and thinking is something that is done consciously. A subconscious thought is a contradiction.
    - MacsHeadroom 11y ago
      >thinking is something that is done consciously. A subconscious thought is a contradiction. That is a ridiculous assertion. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22subconscious+thought%22 https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22subconscious+t...

alchemism 11y ago

bitcuration 11y ago

the book "slow, fast thinking" explored this concept well thoroughly. It's not myth anymore human has both thought. it seems it's more than an simple abstraction on subconscious, it's almost another brain is watching the animal brain of you. I believe this effect is the additional cortex layer made us experienced.

bweitzman 11y ago
I will have to check it out, thanks for the tip! It's not that I don't think we have a "subconscious thought", it's just that I don't think it's reasonable to call it thought if it's not fully conscious. This is an issue of semantics, not neuroscience.