Those who believe, (or at least go along with the pretension to), that the activity of thoughts automatically appearing and passing through their brains is “thinking,” do not know what real thinking is, (or at least can be for those who give up the pretense). Those of ordinary mind, (at least in theory), hold themselves responsible for their thoughts: for what they think, not like their view of the strange loners in the street, expressing their thoughts aloud and who are clearly not responsible for themselves.
It is easy to picture this situation as beneficial, if not required, for man, an animal with thoughts and speech, both of which can differ more from individual to individual than with any physical distinctions between creatures of the same species, to live collectively in relative peace. Simply put: humans must accept the thought that says, “Each man is responsible for himself – he MUST be to make this civilization thing work.” An unstated, unexamined corollary of this is that a man, a sane man, is responsible for his thinking, but just in case all is not always in order, it is best not to go around, saying aloud, the thoughts in your mind.
Forget about second party strangers in the street, talking-insanely, if not at least, inanely, to only themselves; you have one in your head, and if you settle for being just ordinary and commonly sane, you will never see or be able to usefully admit it. But doing so will make you secretly sane in a manner that defies all description and comparison…and which accomplishes nothing…other than: releasing you from the mass hysteria which everyone else is forced to in all “their thinking.”
To say the least, the brain is a funny organ. Your heart is not conscious of its pumping nor your lungs of their respiring. Only the brain is “conscious” of its own operation in part, and the doubly funny thing is that the only part of its activity it is conscious of is its consciousness.
J.