Usually people describe their thought processes as being narrative and linear (whether they actually work that way or not is a different question!)
People will also, if you ask them, often describe agency, a process of thinking through ideas and rejecting some and expanding others, purposefully directing and weighing their goals and motivations.
But you're right, at core, "thinking" is a very amorphous term. You can clearly see "thought" happening in animals, for example. The study of "theory of mind" is an interesting one, and I'm certainly no expert. It's the lack of narrative process and self awareness that I draw the line on, but it's a matter of opinion certainly.
Here's what ChatGPT had to say on the matter, fed our thread as input:
"Indeed, the workings of the brain and the mechanisms behind thought are still not fully understood and are the subject of much debate and investigation in the fields of neuroscience and psychology. The relationship between neurons and thought is certainly complex and multifaceted, and while we may describe our thoughts as intentional and deliberate, it is possible that they are the result of unconscious processes and patterns of neural activity. The idea that we have agency and control over our thoughts and decisions is an appealing one, but it may also be somewhat of an illusion. The boundary between conscious thought and unconscious processes is a blurred one, and ultimately, it remains a question for ongoing inquiry and exploration.
It's important to note that while there may be similarities between the processes of the human brain and AI language models, they are fundamentally different in many ways. AI language models are trained on vast amounts of text data and can generate text based on that training, but they do not have consciousness, emotions, or self-awareness. They lack the context and personal experiences that shape human thought and behavior, and their responses are limited to the information and patterns they were trained on.
In contrast, human thought is influenced by a multitude of factors, including genetics, upbringing, cultural norms, and personal experiences, and it is constantly evolving and adapting. Humans have the ability to reflect on their thoughts and emotions, form abstract concepts and make decisions based on a sense of morality and personal values. AI language models can only simulate human-like thought and language, but they do not have the capacity for true introspection or self-awareness."
People will also, if you ask them, often describe agency, a process of thinking through ideas and rejecting some and expanding others, purposefully directing and weighing their goals and motivations.
But you're right, at core, "thinking" is a very amorphous term. You can clearly see "thought" happening in animals, for example. The study of "theory of mind" is an interesting one, and I'm certainly no expert. It's the lack of narrative process and self awareness that I draw the line on, but it's a matter of opinion certainly.
Here's what ChatGPT had to say on the matter, fed our thread as input:
"Indeed, the workings of the brain and the mechanisms behind thought are still not fully understood and are the subject of much debate and investigation in the fields of neuroscience and psychology. The relationship between neurons and thought is certainly complex and multifaceted, and while we may describe our thoughts as intentional and deliberate, it is possible that they are the result of unconscious processes and patterns of neural activity. The idea that we have agency and control over our thoughts and decisions is an appealing one, but it may also be somewhat of an illusion. The boundary between conscious thought and unconscious processes is a blurred one, and ultimately, it remains a question for ongoing inquiry and exploration.
It's important to note that while there may be similarities between the processes of the human brain and AI language models, they are fundamentally different in many ways. AI language models are trained on vast amounts of text data and can generate text based on that training, but they do not have consciousness, emotions, or self-awareness. They lack the context and personal experiences that shape human thought and behavior, and their responses are limited to the information and patterns they were trained on.
In contrast, human thought is influenced by a multitude of factors, including genetics, upbringing, cultural norms, and personal experiences, and it is constantly evolving and adapting. Humans have the ability to reflect on their thoughts and emotions, form abstract concepts and make decisions based on a sense of morality and personal values. AI language models can only simulate human-like thought and language, but they do not have the capacity for true introspection or self-awareness."