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220
Aleksander Szwedek
[4.2] He needed time to collect his scattered thoughts.
[4.3] I have a thought.
THOUGHT IS A CONTAINER (OBJECT)
Being three-dimensional, an object has boundaries and therefore is a container.
Once a thought is conceptualized as an object, it is also naturally understood
as a container – we can be deep in thoughts or lost in thoughts, thoughts
can be deep, and so forth.
[4.4] She lost herself in her thoughts.
[4.5] From deep thought himself he rouses.
THOUGHT IS A MOVING OBJECT
Since objects are movable, and THOUGHTS are conceptualized as OBJECTS,
thoughts move – thoughts can be passing, sliding or fleeting, cf.
[4.6] The poem is written so as to give the impression of fleeting thoughts.
[4.7] A thought slid into his mind.
[4.8] Little-minded people’s thoughts move in such small circles.
THOUGHT IS AN ANIMATE BEING
Some objects are endowed with life and exhibit appropriate attributes.
When THOUGHTS are conceptualized as ANIMATE BEINGS, they can be dangerous,
happy, sober, healthy and pregnant; they are born, cross one’s mind, come
and strike, cf.
[4.9] The thought came to him in sleep.
[4.10] The birth of thought in the depths of the spirit…
[4.11] All these thoughts and many more were racing through my head.
[4.12] Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.
THOUGHTS can also be counted – we can have many thoughts, first thought
and second thought, cf.
[4.13] Now advise or hear what to my mind first thoughts present.
[4.14] It is often said that second thoughts are best.
THOUGHTS, like physical objects, are arranged in space – we can have the
first, next, or last thought, a current or train of thoughts, cf.
[4.15] Don’t interrupt my train of thoughts.
[4.16] The Story of the Last Thought.
FEAR can be analyzed in a similar way. FEAR is an emotional state, an emotional
response to impending danger. As an emotional state FEAR is abstract
and, except for physical symptoms, is not accessible to our senses.