The Role of Thought

It has long been realized by people that there is a long gap between seeing what ought to be done, and doing what ought to be done. And yet, this knowledge, as is so typical, has not altered this fault.

People commit time to thinking. Out of this have come many ideas. They tell us how to teach, learn, live, and think. One would assume that the wisdom of so much thought would be heeded.

But somehow, it is not. A person can commit to an idea, but there is another force,

They came to the idea. It already had social pressure.
If it is new they will not succeed in it.
If it is old it is already absorbed.
There are too many people. No idea is unique. The collective mind has control over all of itself, even if not over any individual.
An individual does not have a great effect on the collective mind. There are too many components. They may only serve as a symbol for the communities ideas.

This is not bad. For sure, the collection of many people will be better able to live the life of everyone than could one person direct it.

But it is unfourtunate for change. There are so many strong motives that people have,

For a motive to have force, it must be compelling to many people. It must relly on emotions and thoughts common to many people. Thought is not beyond the reach of these forces.

So think, if it is not wasted.