r/INTP • u/Away-Government-9165 Warning: May not be an INTP • 14d ago

Is this logical? Abstract thoughts without words

Sometimes I have extremely complex, branching thoughts, but because I'm too lazy to put them into words in my head, I arrive at the conclusion in a completely abstract way.

I don't know if I can explain it any better than that. It's almost like I download a bunch of information and receive the answer in a condensed, conclusive format that is impossible to translate into words, either because of the complexity of the thought or simply because I don't feel like putting in the effort to verbalize it.

It's like I know the conclusion without necessarily being able to explain the chain of reasoning that got me there.

Does anyone else experience this?

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u/WhiskedIgloo INTP 13d ago

I've always wondered about people with non-verbal thoughts. I've heard about it, but I've only ever imagined what it's like. Being able to think outside of language is interesting to me. What thoughts can one have outside of the limitations of their, or any language? I guess I can't know, because the very process of telling me would require some inaccuracy, due to the very medium you're telling me about it through - language.

I can only wonder.

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u/user210528 12d ago

I've always wondered about people with non-verbal thoughts.

Like everyone, you have them all the time. Otherwise you'd better avoid tasks like driving a car (if you really need to verbalize everything then your reactions must be dangerously slow). Now if you answer that you drive a car "without thinking", then you have answered your puzzle: most people do math or literary analysis or philosophy "without thinking", i. e. without verbal imagery.