Is it possible to have an idea or a thought that is totally original? Or do we spend our lives thinking about stuff that has already been thought about and worked out?

I know that the odd person has a new and previously unthought thought (like Einstein), but are us mere muggles just condemed to spend the rest of our lives thinking we are dead clever but actually being totally unoriginal?

Is this a reason to feel depressed about ourselves?





BTW
(this question was inspired by seeing a recently set up forum where many of the debates are similar -or identical- to what is on here)

Is it possible to have an idea or a thought that is totally original? Or do we spend our lives thinking about stuff that has already been thought about and worked out?

I know that the odd person has a new and previously unthought thought (like Einstein), but are us mere muggles just condemed to spend the rest of our lives thinking we are dead clever but actually being totally unoriginal?

Is this a reason to feel depressed about ourselves?


Technology. The machine you used to type that message stemmed from someone's original thought. Each component inside is made from someone elses "original thought". Your keyboard, mouse, and everything else around you came from an original thought.

As we continue to evolve (or the reverse - matter of opinion), we are always learning to use SOMETHING new. I'd say there was plenty of original thought.

Everything I think about personally, is relevant to my life and situation. Therefore, I very much doubt that several others have had "identical" thoughts to those of my own.

Is it a reason to feel depressed? No more so than when you pick up your cereal bowl only to find your cornflakes are soggy :(

Perhaps there's something 'original' in everyone - perhaps most people just havent discovered it yet.

Unfortunatly yes. The geniuses only come along every now and again.
But imagine how many geniuses have had their ideas crushed under foot or lost in the forests. Imagine where would we be if education was available for all of man and woman kind

Is it possible to have an idea or a thought that is totally original? Or do we spend our lives thinking about stuff that has already been thought about and worked out?

I know that the odd person has a new and previously unthought thought (like Einstein), but are us mere muggles just condemed to spend the rest of our lives thinking we are dead clever but actually being totally unoriginal?

Is this a reason to feel depressed about ourselves?





BTW
(this question was inspired by seeing a recently set up forum where many of the debates are similar -or identical- to what is on here)


I think new thoughts will always come along Deavon.... technology drives our Industry which in turn needs new thoughts to develop and expand and without new thoughts it would stagnate. Whether heavy industry or fashion or just quite new ideas.... they will always flourish as you put the seed into the brain of mankind. Bono has just released a "Red label" in fashion design.... a way of using High Street fashion labels to promote a range of designer ware in order to benefit the 3rd world from its profits.... the concept being that whoever wears the red label or uses a red card are not of the typical Nike brand who say.... "Look at me and what I can buy".... rather "Look at me and see what I stand for." and benefit others less fortunate in the meantime.

That is a concept no doubt that will be frowned upon by some groups.... but if you are involved in it you have a choice where the goods are produced so you don't use people in the making of them.... you pay them a fair wage.

That is a good idea.... depression brought about by not having a good idea doesnt seem right to me.... we all have ideas and we should use them.... I am paid to come up with answers every day and if you drive a Vauxhall the chances are that there are a few of mine built in.... they just don't stamp my name on it. :)

So are you telling us buy VWs then?

So are you telling us buy VWs then?

Most definitely.... I drive a saab. :D

I've been a user of another community website for a long while too until I found this one. I do see similarities and things, but surely it's human survival's instincts ? i.e. we talk about politics, we talk about soaps, etc...

I think that if any individual stops to think about ANY topic, (other than your everyday chit chatty things), he/she can come up with very original ideas and concepts. Sometimes our minds are just filled with every 'fuzz' so we cannot focus really, (like, what's for lunch next, have I brought the kid back from school etc), but I think every person have the same potentials. Okay, maybe some literally have more brain cells, or more right lobe matters or left lobe matters blah blah... which makes them a certain way.

Has anyone ever heard of the other Bono ? De Bono. Some guy who harks on about lateral thinking. It's quite interesting. It's all about thoughts, and how people can derive at the same thoughts, and how others can push that limit further by exciting their minds by injecting other factors to think about. It also talks about why we have analysis paralysis.

I once bought a book by him cos I was stuck on some coding. It helped me, cos all I think about is the used methods, but cannot for the life of me think how to get my answers by doing things in a different way.

I once bought a book by him cos I was stuck on some coding. It helped me, cos all I think about is the used methods, but cannot for the life of me think how to get my answers by doing things in a different way.

This may sound mad but sometimes you need to swich off from the outside world and maybe spend a bit of time alone in contemplation of your ideas.... however far fetched they may seem.... nothing is impossible when you have self belief.... note your ideas down though and collect them untill you can come up with some sort of answer.... just never give up my friend and you will succeed.... coding is also a state of mind.... and you need distance to crack it and positive thought.... you need time and space and the logical thought and the know how.... by space I mean, your own. Don't dance to the tune of others.... try it your own way way.... best of luck.:)

That was a long time ago, thanks for the encouragements. :)

You see, I'm not a guy. I do have an inquisitive mind and maybe some logical thoughts. Yet, I don't have the spatial understanding and concepts. I know many guys have spatial awareness like those of Beckham. As he can judge the distances and the speed of the ball or other, which makes him a great footballer. (I read that somewhere once.)

My personal downfall is the worrying thoughts of being sacked, when I cannot produce the goods. Also, the limited time to think is not enough for me. I sometimes sit here and can think back to the things I did in the job and how best I could've performed. When I was IN the job, I could not do it. Strange ?

Talking about space, offices are NOT good working environments where you can concentrate. Every once a while I have someone ask me if I was okay which annoys the hell outta me cos they knock my thoughts or answers right out of my head. It was that bad. I'm amazed at how some ppl can tune out totally.

That was a long time ago, thanks for the encouragements. :)

You see, I'm not a guy. I do have an inquisitive mind and maybe some logical thoughts. Yet, I don't have the spatial understanding and concepts. I know many guys have spatial awareness like those of Beckham. As he can judge the distances and the speed of the ball or other, which makes him a great footballer. (I read that somewhere once.)

My personal downfall is the worrying thoughts of being sacked, when I cannot produce the goods. Also, the limited time to think is not enough for me. I sometimes sit here and can think back to the things I did in the job and how best I could've performed. When I was IN the job, I could not do it. Strange ?

Talking about space, offices are NOT good working environments where you can concentrate. Every once a while I have someone ask me if I was okay which annoys the hell outta me cos they knock my thoughts or answers right out of my head. It was that bad. I'm amazed at how some ppl can tune out totally.

Yeah.... I can see where you are coming from.... the office is not the best environment to boost yourself as it is very confined and people tend to see the personal issue rather than the relevant.... I have worked with several female engineers.... namely Chinese and jeez they were good. Beckham is merely a footballer and whether He can pass a ball or score is inconsequential compared to keeping the world running in order to pay His extortionate fees by fans who are prepared to do it through hard work and keep the economy buoyant.... Beckham is a T****r and has earned a lot of money because He can kick a ball.... I bet you feel you are worth more as do I.... but it's not gonna happen ( most dislike the the system as I see it on my side at this point or are maybe against me ) but that is the way it is.... some of us contribute and some of us take, "at the end of the day" Is a reasonable ideology put forth by the said Beckham as an excuse for His actions and lack of His input into society.... see Him doing something worthwhile?....: He is a taker.... in what ever sense you which to take my comment.... anyone prove me wrong?

My website is full of original thought...(o: - Have a look!

I used to use this website until a couple of years ago. It did have over 25,000 ideas that were original
http://www.halfbakery.com/

It would make me quite sad to think that everything had already been invented.

My little boy (4 yrs in April) cupped his hands today and showed me a "tiny little submarine" then said "woop, put it back into my eyes". And brushed his hands over his eyes and face. My DH then told me of a film where something similar happens, and Felix cannot possibly have ever seen it.

Are all things finite? Who knows, but I quite like the mystery. Having everything explained mathematically often takes the magic away.

I think we can have original ideas.

I've been reading Harry Potter lately and J K Rowling has the best imagination ever! Some of the things she comes up with are wonderful!

x

I think we can have original ideas.

I've been reading Harry Potter lately and J K Rowling has the best imagination ever! Some of the things she comes up with are wonderful!

x


You've obviously not read the books she is accused of stealing her ideas from then :P

Wilf

Helping you lot out here.... cannot understand why you posted the first sentence of summat I was writing before I even decided to post it myself.... lets see what happens now eh?

It would make me quite sad to think that everything had already been invented.

My little boy (4 yrs in April) cupped his hands today and showed me a "tiny little submarine" then said "woop, put it back into my eyes". And brushed his hands over his eyes and face. My DH then told me of a film where something similar happens, and Felix cannot possibly have ever seen it.

Are all things finite? Who knows, but I quite like the mystery. Having everything explained mathematically often takes the magic away.


Fact is that mathematics does explain everything away.... you would be surprised at the amount of people who will lose a fortune to supress the fact.... maths has been used throughout the centuries to better mankind and further us.... the magic will not be lost.... only gained in your child's ability to grasp the subject. Who is magic then? :thumbsup:

I suppose the only time I ever have 'original' thought is when I say something to the wife, like, "I think I'll watch Fred Dibnah over a bottle of 'Tangle Foot' tonight."

....and she'll reply, "That's original :roll:!!!!!!"

The fact that I can post 5 mins behind myself says it all. lol.

I suppose the only time I ever have 'original' thought is when I say something to the wife, like, "I think I'll watch Fred Dibnah over a bottle of 'Tangle Foot' tonight."

....and she'll reply, "That's original :roll:!!!!!!"

Nah!.... that sounds like a reet good nite to me.... :D

You've obviously not read the books she is accused of stealing her ideas from then :P

Wilf
There was a lawsuit a while back against JK Rowling which was chucked out of court for being, basically, rubbish.

I love Harry Potter. However, the more childrens' writers I read, the more I realise that the stories aren't particularly unique, and that there are certainly better written magical stories for kids.

Diana-Wynne Jones wrote (and is still writing) the Chrestomanci series, which included a few books about a school for wizards and witches. I think the first of these came out some time in the 70s. I read an interview with her a while back; she was a little sniffy about JKR's success, but not really bitter. Ursula Le Guen's books have often been compared to JKR's too, but I can't see it myself. There's also an American series of books called 'The Young Wizard' series (or something along those lines) by Diane Duane.

I do like the HP books (although I thought the last one was a bit duff). I just think that they're not that original, and Diana Wyne-Jones books are much better written.

Fair point about it being chucked out, was just using it as an example that it isn't really that original.

I agree with you that there are better children's book. You mentioned Le Guin and I'd be so bold as to say these books are some of the best children's stories ever written.

Let us not forget Phillip Pullman either (who looks like an old JoeP, in my estimation anyway) for the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy.

Neither are incredibly original, Le Guin taking up mythology and many ideas in Pullman's books taken from his favourite writers; William Blake and John Milton but they are startlingly good reads.

Wilf

Fair point about it being chucked out, was just using it as an example that it isn't really that original.

I agree with you that there are better children's book. You mentioned Le Guin and I'd be so bold as to say these books are some of the best children's stories ever written.

Let us not forget Phillip Pullman either (who looks like an old JoeP, in my estimation anyway) for the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy.

Neither are incredibly original, Le Guin taking up mythology and many ideas in Pullman's books taken from his favourite writers; William Blake and John Milton but they are startlingly good reads.

Wilf
I suppose you could boil Harry Potter (and many others of course) down to elaborations of the Hero's journey.

I know JKR does use a lot of references to mythology etc in her books (you've got all the mythical beasts to start off with), but it all seems a little superficial. I forgot to mention in my post above that one of the very best writers in this genre is Susan Cooper. Her 'The Dark is Rising' sequence is sublime. All five books ('Over Sea, Under Stone', 'The Dark is Rising', 'Greenwitch', 'The Grey King' and 'Silver on the Tree' are available in one volume; well worth purchasing (the text is a little small though).

These books are steeped in Authurian legend and the myths and legends of Cornwall and, in the later books, Wales. They're stunning, and I highly recommend reading them, especially 'The Dark is Rising'.

Alan Garner gets my vote for the very same reasons.

Wilf