magical thinking

[Edwardo Piet]

I was talking about how we won't see what the mind doesn't want us to see?

And I understand the mind to simply be consciousness (and unconsciousness). And I consider thoughts to be conscious parts of, well, consciousness. And so I believe, in a sense, we also have unconscious thoughts? (Thoughts we are not aware of) - correct me if I'm wrong and please do explain.

EvF

[tackattack]

No I completely agree with your above statement. I was simply pointing out that the conscious can be directly manipulated by communication. This of course has to pass through consciousness briefly, but can be done without bringing direct focus on the object being manipulated and thusly seamless integration into part of the mind. Concluding that thoughts accompanied by communication can affect the subconscious minds of others.

[Edwardo Piet]

Ah yes of course, what others say effects what you think. I would think that as a bit more indirect as your own thinking effecting itself though as that is sort of a bit 'closer to home'.

It is pretty direct though indeed.

EvF

[Watson]

I'm not sure about this term...somehow, it seems like this is blanket term to simply write off certain scenario's as being mere tricks of the mind or projected thoughts, which closes out the possibility that what these people may classify as 'magical thinking' might actually be, well, magical.

[TruthWorthy]

I'm not sure about this term...somehow, it seems like this is blanket term to simply write off certain scenario's as being mere tricks of the mind or projected thoughts, which closes out the possibility that what these people may classify as 'magical thinking' might actually be, well, magical.

It isn't about certain scenarios as you put it but about the entire concept that what occurs in the mind and external reality being connected in any way, shape, or form.

[Watson]

Well, all we really have to go on in this world is our perceptions, so to say that what is being percieved by someone as magical is not magical would be to dismiss that person's perception as false, without have seen from that perception or understood it at all.

[TruthWorthy]

Well, all we really have to go on in this world is our perceptions, so to say that what is being percieved by someone as magical is not magical would be to dismiss that person's perception as false, without have seen from that perception or understood it at all.

I think you misunderstand what perceptions are. If you're talking about personal subjective experience versus, lets call it reality, then you're talking about schema (map) versus reality (territory). Only the map can be falsified.

[KichigaiNeko]

For me the term 'Magical' is difficult and I also see that relgious christian fervour is also included in the Wiki entry.

Here in Oz you can type the word Magic into google and the first entry is 'The Catholic Church' funny about that.

As far as the mind 'influencing' the world around it the jury is still out....I have had occasions to "think" of something and then it turned up. What gets really disconcerting is being able to "feel" peoples thoughts and emotions...investigations are still ongoing.

But so far there is a plausibility to the statement. The definition of that plausibility is still being refined

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm not sure about this term...somehow, it seems like this is blanket term to simply write off certain scenario's as being mere tricks of the mind or projected thoughts, which closes out the possibility that what these people may classify as 'magical thinking' might actually be, well, magical.

I don't absolutely deny to possibility. But I certainly, definitely, don't deny the absurdity either. I'll believe that when there's evidence so strong is proves the "magical" or supernatural.... but perhaps even if it is possible the alternatives - in this case, the alternative of it NOT being magical - are always more probable?

EvF

[tackattack]

@ KichigaiNeko - Think about affirmations. Our brain only consciously processes a very small portion of our surrounding. Why if you write down your goals 15 times a day do you start to "see" more opportunities to accomplish those goals. Perceptual accentuation says that we see what we want to see. If we're keeping our true wants and desires in front of our conscious mind there is a higher degree that we'll notice more of that item. I posted somewhere in another thread about doing a perception experiment, but can't be bothered to find it at this time. Mentalists twist the psyche to make you think a certain way all the time. You're concept of what is perceptually real is not nearly as static as a lot of people believe.