An idea....
By skinnychick
@skinnychick (6905)
United States
March 22, 2008 8:36pm CST
I was in a Psychology class last week and my Professor posed a question that I found interesting so I thought I would share it.
Which do you think is more powerful thing in the world- an idea or an action??
This should be a pretty cut and dry question but it also depends on how you think on it.
Immediately, I thought action because an action could be devastating and all it takes is one split second. I would suspect that would be true of most people, talking about an initial answer to this question.
But the action came from an idea. I think that if you get an idea in your head for good or evil and you get people to stand with you in your idea, you can change the world for good or for evil. So the actual idea, I feel, is more powerful. In fact, an idea to me is the most powerful thing in the world.
In terms of an idea put into action for evil, it really is scary to think that someone or a group could dream of such an evil idea like the World Trade Center on 9-11.
That is more powerful to me than money, love, or a loaded gun pointed at someone's head.
So do you agree or disagree?? What are your thoughts on ideas?? Have you ever came up with an idea that you put into action that changed your world?
Thanks in advance for your responses!
3 people like this
11 responses
@candyandhoney (146)
• China
23 Mar 08
interesting discussion!
in my opinion, the idea and action are coexisted. we can not just talk about ideas or just discuss actions only. In general, the action comes from an idea, and vice versa, the idea might come from an action.Like theory and practice, they might affect each other. For example, when I thought of an idea and do it, then I change my idea and mend it. afterward the mended idea will lead to my another action and so on.....
Besides, how could you explain the subconscious which might create action?
1 person likes this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Exactly...actions are said to be from the subconscious mind. The idea is generally from the conscious mind. Yet another fascinating facet to the human mind. It is exactly like proven theory and practice. They live with each other- go hand in hand. Most of the time though, because of the effects of an action we forget where the idea behind the action came from. Frankly, I hadn't thought about that until this class. I and probably the rest of the population would just look at the end result of something without asking themselves where the action came from.
Great response..thanks so much!
1 person likes this
@twils2 (1812)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Hello SkinnyChick,
I agree that an idea is more powerful as long as the originator of the idea has the power to convince others to carry it out. Unless you can get others to help carry out your idea it would just be someones thought. The most powerful people in the world had to convince others that their ideas were better then anyone elses or would never had gained their power in the first place.
Take care, Terry
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I think as for every action there is a reaction for every action there had to have first been an idea. When I think about it, even if an action is done impulsively there had to have been an idea to start with even if only for a split second. You're right about 9/11 - it started with an idea, then was developed into a plan which was acted upon, unfortunately for us with great "success" on their end. So, I totally agree, the idea is more powerful because it's where every action begins.
Annie
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Nice answer! Thanks for stopping by Annie! :)
1 person likes this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
23 Mar 08
Some actions don't need to be thought over. Some of them are instinctive. People just do such things automatically. Some would just reason out their actions after all is done.
Indeed, an idea not in action would still remain as an idea. Actions without being evaluated through ideas can only be determined if its good or bad, from the the end result that the action would lead to.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
This is true and I think that this is where mental illness plays in. Someone who does something irrationally and instinctively to hurt others, aren't sane in my book.
Your last line is a great one and thanks for stopping by!
1 person likes this
@TheLadyW (61)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I agree because ideas give birth to actions. One idea can result in many actions. An action once done is done. An idea can fester, grow, or it can die. The orginial thought once expressed, does not have to be acted upon by the originator. Once expressed, anyone can follow through and possibly repeatedly.
Remember the quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword."--similiar concept.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Absolutely! I like what you had to say. Great way of looking at it. :)
Thanks for the great response.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
23 Mar 08
Well in rational and logical thought idea and action, like strategy and policy must always follow. But what about instinct? There are some things that we do that are wholly based on what we feel rather than why. Other animals do it all the time. I am not sure that they think too much at all, at least not in the same sense that we do. In my imagination I can make all sorts of things happen. But translating those thought to something that is real is completely different. When do we do things as a direct result of a unique thought or idea. I bought my house, seemed like a good idea. But that was because I saw that other people had done it and had found it better than renting. I left a job that was killing me, literally. But was that not just rational thought translating into action. I am not sure that I can say with any sense of certainty that either is correct. I look forward to hearing what your Professor's answer is.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
My Professor went along that the idea is more powerful. Yes actions can be devastating in a negative way and in a positive way- a good idea with backers and sometimes without (as in classic literature which is beautiful) can literally change the world. If someone sets their mind to it then it can be done.
A idea that can potentially devastate the world coming from the mind of someone is pretty much the brain misfiring somewhere and it can be a symptom of mental illness or good old fashioned brainwashing which is viewed as a mental illness in and of itself. If you let someone take over your mind- there is something wrong with it. Your reasoning for logic and right and wrong is somehow misplaced. But then you can figure in culture as well...if you take Islamic Fundamentalists, most of the time they were born into this way of thinking. My beef with that is that you grow up and make choices and you can grow up and stop insanity. But the other side of the argument is that you may not know anything else and you take your environment as the whole truth.
There are many sides to this question depending on how you look at it.
The actions cause devastation but the fact that someone thought it up is really powerful especially when it comes to fruition.
Thanks for stopping by Pike...as I sit and get more confused. LOL
@EconKnowMix (858)
• Philippines
23 Mar 08
Well, for me it is action. Because an idea remains and idea until you act for it. So, action is the most powerful between the two choices.
In addition to that, idea can not be materialized unless all the circumstances that are needed to take it into actions are one way or another are absent.
Hope it enlightens you on this matter. happy Easter.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
It does enlighten me which I always welcome. What scary is when a bad idea materializes at the hand of the person who came up with the idea, the action can be devastating.
Have a great Easter and thanks for stopping by.
@Writerbob (572)
• United States
31 Mar 08
In terms of ultimate effect, it's a no-brainer - ideas can, like all information, live on forever and inspire successive generations to take never-ending action....
...actions which, as technology evolves, can be progressively more damaging to humans and the world they inhabit.
Mark me down for ideas, with emphasis!
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Very well written WriterBob! Thanks for the friend request as well.
I love the way you put this and I have you marked down! :)
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I'm still going to have to go with action, and here is why. I get where you are coming from with your example of the idea for evil with the 9/11 thing but an idea never acted upon never does anyone any harm or any good.
I have plenty of ideas. If I don't perform the action necessary to carry them out then are intangibles. Just thoughts in my head that can't hurt or help anyone.
Same as with 9/11. A group of guys sitting around talking about mass devastation exchanging ideas, no harm done. The harm was caused by the actions those men took to carry out their ideas. So to me an action is still more powerful. Without the action an idea is just an idea.
And I know you are sitting there reading this saying to yourself..."But if they didn't have the idea in the first place then they wouldn't have had an action to carry out..."
To that I say, chicken or the egg :)
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
It's absolutely the chicken or the egg here...Very good and clever my dear.
The actions are devastating and evil because they are carried out. The idea then becomes "real". They go hand and hand in a total power struggle...
Then again the initial idea of crashing plans into major buildings is f'ed up in itself someone was one sick mofo.
Thanks for stopping by hun!
@sutanhartanto (4122)
• Indonesia
23 Mar 08
It tends to be an idea. Idea is the seed of action, an matter also. Even this universe origins of an idea. The Supreme conciousness has an idea, and His idea was materialized.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Mar 08
The Supreme Consciousness is a concept from Brahma I believe. Correct me if I am wrong please. This idea has materialized if you believe in the absolute universe. It's a positive beautiful train of thought. Thanks for stopping by and for the comment.
@alexigne (903)
• Philippines
2 Apr 08
I go to the idea. I believe it is more powerful than action. Applying it to business.If you can notice, there a so many people who have so many idea but can't do some actions. Why in business, even if you have a lot of idea and no funds to support, this is impossible to start.But if someone discover your idea, they will make it into real.
During schooldays, your group of class has a debate. If the side stand for their own and make it visible to others, listener will just agree.
On meeting with brainwashing,if your idea is more powerful than others, the whole group will go to your idea.
Just believe in yourself.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Great answer! Thanks so much and people definitely should believe in themselves for the positive side of this question! Have a great day!
