Our sense of justice depends on our sense of time. Justice is a phenomenon only of consciousness, because time spread out in a spatial succession is its very essence. And this is possible only in a spatial metaphor of time.
Julian JaynesRead
One does one's thinking before one knows what one is to think about.
Interpretation
Thinking precedes our awareness of what we are supposed to think about.
This quote by Julian Jaynes suggests that our cognitive processes often function unconsciously before we consciously recognize the subject matter we should contemplate. It emphasizes the complexity of thought and how our decision-making processes are sometimes initiated without our full awareness of the context or the content we are engaging with.
In practice
During a seminar on cognitive science, this quote could illustrate how our thoughts are formed.
Our sense of justice depends on our sense of time. Justice is a phenomenon only of consciousness, because time spread out in a spatial succession is its very essence. And this is possible only in a spatial metaphor of time.
Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone does not know everyone else.
Abstract words are ancient coins whose concrete images in the give and take of talk have worn away with use.
There is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.
I see possibilities in everything. For everything that's taken away, something of greater value has been given.
Down in the city are the nice houses and the so-so houses and the lovers making out in dark yards and the babies crying for their moms, and I wonder if, other than Jesus, has this ever happened before. Maybe it happens all the time. Maybe there's angry dead all over, hiding in rooms, covered with blankets, bossing around their scared, embarrassed relatives. Because how would we know?
Whatever crushes individuality is despotism.
And as she looked around, she saw how Death the consoler, Laying his hand upon many a heart, had healed it forever.
I am a part of the part that at first was all, part of the darkness that gave birth to the light, that supercilious light which now disputes with Mother Night her ancient rank and space, and yet cannot succeed; no matter how it struggles, it sticks to matter and can't get free. Light flows from substance, makes it beautiful.
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