Thinking is a cognitive state of a human being referring to the ability to process information, capture information, store and retrieve memories, select appropriate responses, and perform actions.
It is also an ability to understand other people and express oneself to others. Thinking stays in the brain but is inextricably linked to the external environment.
Thinking is vital when it comes out to acting and responding to the demand of the outside world. Sustainable thinking epitomizes inclusive understanding and objectively information processing to generate universally accepted output with no or minimal negative consequences.
Again, it is objectively examined and value-driven where every aspect is tested by fallibility (knowingly or unknowingly) so that none can refute it outright.
Generically, it is a thinking process utilized before speaking or doing anything where delivered outputs must be accepted by all and benefit all.
This approach fundamentally works at the throughput level of system theory that starts from the input and ends with the output with a process at the throughout level.
While processing in the brain, one has to rationally check the appropriateness of sources and information supplied to process and examine the possible effects either intended or unintended. The criteria, reasoning, effects, understanding, and cognitive superiority are crucial at this level.
Sustainable thinking links to ‘double-loop’ learning at the individual level to inject a rationality check with an answer to ‘why’; justification of any action in three-time dimensions i.e. past, present and future.
This is the importance of sustainable thinking. Moreover, the existence and progress of the world, society, and state depend on multiple activities where actions gradually contribute to the progress and build back stronger. ‘Action’- the appropriate action is the center of sustainable thinking.
It is an action before doing anything that is also checked from multi-dimensional viewpoints. These dimensions include maintaining standard guidelines, ruminating plausible consequences, utilizing possibly addressing mechanisms from different angles, and most importantly thinking of humans as the, directly and indirectly, affected ones from any sort of actions.
Sustainable thinking can be characterized by several narratives ‘think before you do’, ‘look before you leap’, ‘feel the others’ pain as your pain’, ‘feel sympathetic and be empathetic’, ‘think, think and think’. However, these narratives are not conclusively alternative to sustainable thinking but contribute sufficiently to the theory.
Considerable aspects of sustainable thinking include economic and financial value, social and cultural fitness, environmental appropriateness, social and political acceptance, intended and unintended consequences and ultimate value for human beings.
These are the key principles for sustaining thinking. Moreover, the positive and inclusive answers to the question ‘why’ and ‘should’ are the key principles to test the fallibility in order to get the accepted results.
Thinking must not be personally biased, driven by superfluous information, influenced by inadequate theoretical assumptions, distorted by inappropriate methods, afflicted by social prejudice, and motivated by political economy.
However, thinking is not too generalized action rather it is highly influenced by the mental state of a person and the complex external world.
George Soros explicates that a person’s thinking serves two functions, which are cognitive function which requires the understanding of where someone lives, and manipulative function that impacts the world and a person’s interests.
These two functions are connected with the person’s subjective and objective reality and serve in opposite direction. He also explains that a person is passive in the cognitive function whereas s/he is active in the manipulative function and both functions are subject to fallibility.
Sustainable thinking helps reduce the unnecessary information in the cognitive function and test the real-world circumstances.
The principal proposal is that human beings should not act (and speak) without rational thinking. In another word, following sustainable thinking, which is the rational and objective justification of any action, is imperative.
Utilization of fallibility is more likely to contribute to establishing sustainable thinking as fallibility helps create a mental construct based on extensive resources and intellect.
By exercising the fallibility concept, one confronts the understanding of the reality of extreme complexity based on various methods of simplification such as generalization, dichotomies, metaphors, decision rules, and moral perceptions.
Sustainable thinking simplifies the complex world through fallibility and produces an acceptable narrative about an action.
The use of the sustainable thinking concept is quite wider and useful, as it is needed to utilize in the decision-making process at all levels: personal, familial, social, organizational, state level and so on.
If a person thinks sustainably considering every aspect of consequences, benefits for all, suitable for the system and most importantly greater positive outcomes; hence, the output decided as a result of sustainable thinking would not be wrong to anyone or anything.
It is applicable to all human beings; all walks of people. For example, a student must think about why s/he needs to study, why s/he needs to sit for an examination, and what would be plausible consequences if not studied or appeared at the examination.
Why should they exercise and take part in the games and sports? Why should they play with their peers, juniors, and seniors?
It is noted to remember that thinking should not be exercised in a way that inhibits progress and prohibits undertaking any action; even if it is thought and action is taken that would not bring harm to the state, society and human beings.
Why should they abide by traffic rules or obey teachers and parents? Why should they share tiffin with their friends?
Similarly, why and how are applicable for employees of a particular organization. If these are adequately analyzed and thought, the notion of sustainable thinking would definitely give universally accepted solutions.
Considering the principles and presumptions of sustainable thinking, decision-makers must undertake interventions that ultimately benefit all.
While taking decisions, if all involved stakeholders utilize sustainable thinking, the outcomes would never be lambasted.
They must ruminate whether whatever they say is correctly uttered, is tested by rationality check and is certainly beneficial to all (or nearly to) all people. If the thinking is not sustainable, the outcomes would not only be unacceptable to the community but also would bring huge economic, financial, and environmental loss.
This is the importance of sustainable thinking. Moreover, the existence and progress of the world, society, and state depend on multiple activities where actions gradually contribute to the progress and build back stronger. ‘Action’- the appropriate action is the center of sustainable thinking.
This process bars undertaking unacceptable decisions. Sustainable thinking is the base of all development initiatives and thus acts as the precondition for inclusive development including sustainable development goals.
It is assumed that if actions are taken without thinking, sustainable thinking, in particular, action may cost huge, debilitate a person’s image, create social unrest and chaos, make a country’s image vulnerable, and jeopardize overall development.
The principal proposal is that human beings should not act (and speak) without rational thinking. In another word, following sustainable thinking, which is the rational and objective justification of any action, is imperative.
It is noted to remember that thinking should not be exercised in a way that inhibits progress and prohibits undertaking any action; even if it is thought and action is taken that would not bring harm to the state, society and human beings.
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