Home / Quotes / Quote by Thomas Metzinger

Quote by Thomas Metzinger

“As far as inner action is concerned, we are only rarely truly self-determined persons, for the major part of our conscious mental activity rather is an automatic, unintentional form of behavior on the subpersonal level.”

Quote by Thomas Metzinger

Author

Thomas Metzinger

Thomas Metzinger is a German philosopher born on March 12, 1958. His research focuses on the philosophy of consciousness and cognitive science, particularly on the nature and function of consciousness. Metzinger is known for his in-depth exploration of phenomenology, philosophy of mind, and scientific philosophy. more

You May Also Like

“When you are simply observing your breath, you are perceiving an automatically unfolding process in your body. By contrast, when you are observing your wandering mind, you are also experiencing the spontaneous activity of a process in your body.”

Mind Body Process Activity Breaths Your Body Wander Contrast Spontaneous Observing Unfolding Wandering Mind

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“Only as long as we believe in our own identity over time does it make sense for us to make future plans, avoid risks, and treat our fellow human beings fairly - for the consequences of our actions will, in the end, always concern ourselves.”

Believe Humans Long Doe Ends Action Human Beings Plans Risk Identity Consequence Concern Treats Fellows Make Sense Our Actions Future Plans Consequences Of Our Actions

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“Imagine you are trying to lose weight and attempting to concentrate on writing an article, but there is a bowl with your favorite chocolate cookies in your field of vision, a permanent immoral offer. If we are capable of rejecting such offers or to postpone them into the future, then we can also concentrate on that which we currently want to do.”

Ifs Want Writing Trying Loses Vision Imagine Fields Offers Capable Weight Permanent Chocolate Articles Bowls Immoral Cookies Attempting Rejecting Lose Weight Your Favorite

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“If we lose the ability in question for a single moment only, we are immediately being hijacked by an aggressive little "Think me!" and our mind begins to wander.”

Ifs Thinking Mind Littles Moments Loses Ability Wander Aggressive Single Mom

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“Speaking as a phenomenologist, it seems to me that a considerable portion of mind wandering actually is "mental avoidance behaviour", an attempt to cope with adverse internal stimuli or to protect oneself from a deeper processing of information that threatens self-esteem.”

Mind Self Seems Self Esteem Information Protect Oneself Deeper Esteem Wander Internals Portions Behaviour Stimulus Avoidance Processing Adverse

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“Someone who cannot stop his outer flow of words will soon be unable to communicate with other human beings at all.”

Humans Human Beings Flow Communicate

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“Whoever loses the capability for inner silence, loses contact to himself and soon won't be able to think clearly any more.”

Thinking Able Loses Silence Contact Capability

Author:Thomas Metzinger

“The Republican Party`s reacting now to the news of [Donald] Trump`s dominance in different ways. For some, they are pushing resistance.”

Way Different Party Trump Republican News Resistance Different Ways Pushing Republican Party Dominance Reacting

Author:Chris Matthews

“After [Donald] Trump has won in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Republicans are crazy and are about to blow the White House if we don`t rally to stop him.”

Ifs House White Crazy Trump Republican South Blow White House Carolina South Carolina Hampshire New Hampshire

Author:Haley Barbour

“We can't win - if we nominate someone - if we nominate someone that half of the Republican Party hates, we're going to be fighting against each other all the way to November [of 2016]. We will never win that way.”

Ifs Way Hate Fighting Winning Party Half Republican Republican Party November Can't Win

Author:Marco Rubio