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    How We Should Think: The Intersections of Philosophical Thought
    How We Should Think: The Intersections of Philosophical Thought
    How We Should Think: The Intersections of Philosophical Thought
    Ebook105 pages56 minutes

    How We Should Think: The Intersections of Philosophical Thought

    By P. D. Jacob

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    Thinking about thinking (commonly called philosophy) has occupied the minds and pens of many of historys most influential leaders. Philosophical thought has led to great achievements in the realms of ethics, benevolence, and social justice, as well as personal growth and spiritualism.

    How we think deserves our fullest attention. How we process information will either strengthen or weaken the communication highways (calcium filaments called dendrites) in our brains. Thinking constructively helps to build a physical brain structure, which will support positive actions and outcomes. Its not magic. Its not faith. Its biology!

    What did Confucius, Buddha, Plato, Aristotle, and Einstein have to say about mankinds search for truth, meaning, and happiness? How did they and other great thinkers interpret the world we live in? Lets pick some brains, and then see if we can connect the dots and draw some useful conclusions.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTrafford Publishing
    Release dateJan 28, 2014
    ISBN9781490722405
    How We Should Think: The Intersections of Philosophical Thought
    Author

    P. D. Jacob

    Author Paul Daniel Jacob is a lifelong student of religion, psychology, philosophy, logic, and human behavior. He is as likely to be found hiking atop a mountain in the jungles of Belize or Guatemala as he would be giving a presentation to a group of health educators at an urban conference center. Since childhood, Paul has been drawn to remote locations that provide an ideal atmosphere for introspection, observation, and respect for nature. His inspirations emerge out of the relationships between humankind and all other life forms and nonliving matter, which constitute the clockworks of life. “There can be no separation of, and we should not under-appreciate, the components of our world. Each seemingly insignificant action or inaction is a course-altering factor in the evolution of our vast universe. Our spiritualism inspires our participation. Our spiritual component allows us to be in awe.” P. D. Jacob, author of; THE AWAKENING DREAM – Journey on the Wings of a Thousand Angels HOW WE SHOULD THINK – The Intersections of Philosophical Thought THE FREETHINKING HUMANIST – Pocketbook

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      Book preview

      How We Should Think - P. D. Jacob

      © Copyright 2013 P. D. Jacob.

      Copyright page: Front cover photo by P.D.Jacob.

      Back cover photo by Barbra Alloy, Alloy photography.

      All inside photos, except galaxy, by P.D.Jacob

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

      retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

      ISBN: 978-1-4907-2241-2 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4907-2240-5 (e)

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

      and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      Trafford rev. 12/20/2013

      22970.png    www.trafford.com

      North America & international

      toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

      fax: 812 355 4082

      Contents

      Dedication

      Preface

      I   the gift and mystery of life

      2   the definition and intent of philosophy

      3   a foundation of acceptable presumptions

      4   struggling with the ambiguity of language

      5   symbolic linguistic mathematics

      6   the significance of physical and vocal dexterity

      7   the spectrum of truths

      8   good vs. evil and the application of justice

      9   mining the valuable jewels of religion

      10 desiring and acquiring happiness

      11 the great honor of personal responsibility

      DEDICATION

      P eople join us on our journey through life at different points on our path. They walk with us for a while. We share the experience. We share the adventure. We grow together. Thank you, Susan and Joan, for walking with me.

      PREFACE

      Y ou might consider this book to be an introduction to philosophy, as it explores many particular thoughts held by many great philosophers dating as far back as hundreds of years before Christ. You might consider this a sort of self-help book, encouraging the reader to rethink how she or he looks at the world, in an effort to smooth the inevitable bumps of life. Or, you might be a book junkie who just wants to curl up on an overstuffed recliner with an interesting paperback, retreating from the hustle and bustle of daily chores. My hope is that this book serves all of those needs, and more.

      The subjects covered are common to everyone’s life, though they aren’t the sorts of issues we normally contemplate or share in casual conversation. Some are personal. Some are controversial. And some are just a little too deep to toss up at a party. But the topics have earned conspicuous credibility by occupying the minds and pens of the most brilliant literary and scientific geniuses our species has produced.

      In my humble development as a spiritual being I have labored with the conclusions drawn by religious and spiritual leaders. I have attempted to identify common threads, and incorporate them into my evolutionary constitution. And I have looked to the philosophers for interpretation of the messages of seemingly universal importance. This book reflects my attempt to connect the dots.

      As I presume is the case with most writers, this project was a learning and growing experience for me. The process forced me to clarify ambiguous notions which I had yet to fully reconcile. Each sentence required a justifiable transition from the previous sentence. After applying reason and logic I was able to fully commit to those notions and then share them with you.

      We spend much of our lives substantiating what we think we know about ourselves, and about life. Often we just need to hear, from another source or in other words, what we already think we know. One of the most flattering comments I’ve ever received from a stranger at a book-signing was simply this: You write just what everybody thinks but nobody knows how to put into words. I only hope the rest of my readers can find little pockets of what she found in the pages that follow. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to try.

      ~p.d.jacob

      CONTEMPLATION I

      the gift and mystery of life

      H ow many variables fell into place that I might have this rare opportunity to experience life? What are the chances that I would be included in the vast number of presumably intentional organisms which flourish in the universe? How likely or unlikely is it that I might possess a brain and a mind, capable of absorbing all that my senses can and do discover? I unwittingly, yet miraculously, find myself here on tiny planet Earth, one of several planets surrounding just one star, our Sun. What are the odds that I find myself in this galaxy which we have named the

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