[Column] The Science of Thought (Shiko no Kagaku) - Let's Enjoy "Thinking"! (Prologue: What is the Science of Thought? - A Journey Exploring the Joy of Thinking)

Welcome to The Science of Thought - A Journey Exploring the Joy of Thinking

Why is thinking fun?

We think about various things every day.

"Why is the sky blue?" "Should I choose this path?" "Why am I drawn to Triceratops?" - Thinking is life itself. So, why do we find thinking so appealing?

We live in an era where AI provides knowledge and answers can be found instantly with a search. However, "answers" alone do not satisfy our intellectual curiosity. Isn't "posing questions, thinking, and trial and error" the very joy of human intelligence?

I invite you on such a journey of intellectual adventure with "The Science of Thought".

What is "The Science of Thought"?

"The Science of Thought" is a column series for those who love to think and enjoy scientific thinking.

This title, coined by the author, carries a deep meaning.

• "Shiko" (Thought) encompasses the meanings of various homophones such as "thought," "trial," "preference," "orientation," "supreme," and "aspiration," representing a multifaceted approach to knowledge, including "thinking," "challenging oneself," "pursuing what one loves," and "aiming for an ideal."

• "Kagaku" (Science) incorporates the element of "science" as well as the idea of enjoying science, much like "music." It is not just science as an academic discipline, but values the "attitude of enjoying learning and exploration."

Here, we will go beyond the framework of existing academic disciplines to think about new fields that could be called "pre-science" and enjoy the exploration of knowledge. For example...

• "Column Studies" - What is a column? Why do we read columns?

• "Reader Studies" - Who is a reader? What kind of act is reading?

• "Small Talk Science" - Why does small talk emerge, and why is it important to humans?

• "Tricera-Studies" - Why are some people drawn to Triceratops?

These disciplines do not exist yet. However, by thinking and posing questions, they may one day develop into new fields of study. "The Science of Thought" aims to be a place for such intellectual creation.

Intellectual Co-creation between AI and Humans

Now that AI has advanced, "obtaining knowledge" has become easy. However, "how to utilize knowledge" and "how to generate new perspectives" remain challenges unique to humans.

Therefore, in "The Science of Thought," we will utilize dialogue with AI.

For example, if you ask an AI, "What is a column?"

You will get a dictionary-style answer like that. However, instead of stopping there, we will deepen the inquiry by asking, "Why do people want to read columns?"

Having AI and humans complement each other to generate more creative thinking—that is one of the major goals of the "Science of Thought."

As a test, I asked generative AI (ChatGPT) what kind of themes would be interesting based on the purpose of this column, and the response was as follows.

📌 Theme List for the Column Series

🎭 Intellectual Games Series (Thinking about fictional academic disciplines)

1. "Column Studies" - What is a column? Why do articles attract people?

2. "Reader Studies" - What is a reader? The science and psychology of the act of reading

3. "Small Talk Science" - Why is small talk interesting? Can AI understand small talk?

4. "Tricera-Studies" - Why do Triceratops evoke a sense of romance?

5. "Drone Psychology" - What is the reason we are captivated by drone flight?

6. "What is Proto-Science?" - Knowledge before it becomes science, the moment ideas are born

🤖 Co-creation with AI Series (Thinking through dialogue with AI)

1. "I had AI think of a new academic discipline"

2. "Thinking about problems that AI cannot solve"

3. "Differences in thinking between AI and humans"

🌍 Future Academic Prediction Series (Considering disciplines that might appear in the future)

1. "The academic system of 2050"

2. "Philosophy of the Future: Ethics of Thinking with AI"

3. "How to Learn in an Age Where Knowledge is Free"

Doesn't that make you feel a little excited?
A newborn baby knows nothing. Precisely because they don't know, they take an interest in everything around them, looking at things, touching them, and putting them in their mouths to verify them (laughs).
The author believes that seeing, hearing, and feeling are the starting points of learning, and that thinking is inherently enjoyable.

Won't you join me on this journey of intellectual exploration?

In "The Science of Thought," we aim to expand intellectual curiosity together with our readers.

If you were to think of a new field of study as "un-science," what themes could there be?

• "The Factorization of Things: Thinking About Matters Through Factorization"

• "Narrative Cognition: Exploring Why We Are Moved by Stories"

• "Intuition Science: Researching the Mechanism of Human Inspiration"

Why don't you think about what kind of academic field you would create?

In the next "Science of Thought," we will consider "Column Studies" as our first theme.

Let's set off together on a journey that stimulates intellectual curiosity!

Afterword

This "Science of Thought" series is written while utilizing ChatGPT. As an attempt for AI and humans to think together and generate new perspectives, it is not just a dissemination of information, but also an experimental space for intellectual exploration.

While exploring the possibilities of generative AI, how deep can we take our thinking, and what kind of new forms of knowledge can we depict? Through this column, I would like to share those possibilities with you and continue thinking together.

I look forward to your continued support of "The Science of Thought."