Foundations

The language of thought

What is a thought, anyway? Science suggests thoughts are electrochemical reactions produced in the brain, arising from both external and internal stimuli—sensory inputs, emotions, memories, and even physiological states. Meanwhile, Eastern mystics see thoughts as transient fluctuations, illusions that bind us to the material world, clouding deeper understanding. Yet to the rationalist René Descartes, thoughts were the one certainty. In this view, thought is reality itself, the universe woven from thought.

But still, what is a thought? What’s it made of?

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A Mathematical, Thinking Universe

We easily conceptualize a world made of matter, with the universe as its container. We can touch it, see it, and measure it. But should we trust our senses? A philosophical idealist would argue that the universe is made of thought. But how do we even begin to conceptualize the

Qualia and the Syntax and Semantics of Thought

The hard problem of consciousness, as formulated by David Chalmers, challenges us to explain subjective experiences—the mystery of qualia. But in a living, thinking universe, must this remain a mystery? If we view souls as thinkers and experiencers of thoughts, dreaming the world into existence, can we solve this

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