Was ist der Unterschied zwischen to conceive und to think ?

Question

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen to conceive  und to think ?

billnicholas · Accepted Answer

Conceive means you create the idea in your mind. But you can think about something someone else created

Chechina · Answer

Mainly,
○ to conceive ⇒ the starting point of the process of creating something.
● to think ⇒ mental procedure (calculation, memory and decision-making), a much more abstract process.

But sometimes they can mean the same or pretty close. Let's see.

① For pregnancy...
○ to conceive = (For a woman) to become pregnant "at that precise moment", the moment of "conception".
● to think... 🚫
▪︎ They need to know when she conceived in order to calculate the date of delivery.

② For a new idea...
○ to conceive = to have the first thoughts of creating a product, when the product idea "is born".
● "To think of" is to devise something new.
▪︎The whole project was conceived while we were playing cards.
▪︎The whole project was thought of while we were playing cards.✅
(No real difference, to conceive perhaps looks more at the starting point of the product, and "to think of" at the mental generation of the idea.)
▪︎ George Lucas conceived most of the Star Wars films almost half a century ago.
▪︎ George Lucas thought of most of the Star Wars films almost half a century ago.✅

③ For mental images...
○ to conceive [of something] = to image [something], to use the imagination to generate a mental image, but never to remember.
● "to think of" and "to think about" = imagine.
● "think back", "to think about" = to remember,  to evoke recreating images.
(i.e.: to imagine both, to remember only with to think!)
▪︎I am thinking about when we were just little childen.
▪︎I conceive when we were just little childen.❌
▪︎I can perfectly conceive of a day when each of us would generate our own energy.
▪︎I can perfectly think of a day when each of us would generate our own energy.✅
▪︎I am thinking about you.
▪︎I am conceiving about you.❌
▪︎ I can't conceive of a world without mobile phones.
▪︎ I can't think of a world without mobile phones.✅
▪︎ Somehow, I can conceive what you are like even though we have never met before.
▪︎ Somehow, I can think of what you are like even though we have never met before.✅

④ Considering...
○ to conceive (negative) ⇒ to disapprove.
● to think = to consider, to have an opinion, a preference, a guess...
▪︎ What do you think about that book?
▪︎ I think I will have rock salmon and chips.
▪︎ I think she is coming late again!
▪︎ I can't think why the police haven't caught him yet!
▪︎ I can't conceive why the police have not cought him yet!✅

⑤ Basic brain functions...
○ to conceive... 🚫
● to think = to confront, to compare, to solve, to remember, to calculate... or just common sence, all in order to come with answers, or bigger doubts, or conclusions... or just for pleasure.
▪︎ I have to think about my life.
▪︎ Wait! Think! There has to be a way to contact her!
▪︎ What are you thinking?

And basically so it is, I understand it can be confusing but I hope this helps.

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

Wow, @you_wu !!
😊😊

@you_wu : 
«made me think that the meaning of “to think” includes the meaning of “to conceive”.»

Maybe in a sense... but rather than "inclusion", "intersection", I should say. (See image)

And yes, if we remove "pregnant" the whole intersection is in the "Think" set 🤔... Therefore included. It makes me wonder...

@you_wu : 
«except [...] for pregnancy.»,
and other exceptions!
(See image again)

But I think the most important point that refutes your theory is the whole ⑤. In essence, they are different.

To conceive is much more concrete process, "the start of a new" idea which later can become something real: a book, a film, a website, an invention...

To think is more abstract, we can think old and odd ideas on and on...

We can think along the day many futile things that serve no particular purpose... We conceive one or two things in our lives, if we are lucky enough.

You have to think in order to conceive, probably, to think or to get into illegal substances 🤭; just kidding. But we have to think almost to do everything.

@you_wu : 
«Can all actions of our brain be called “to think”?»
Not exactly, I don't think so...

For instance,
"What are you thinking?"
" No, I am not thinking, I am calculating the money we have paid to the landlord".
(Almost it is a complaint: "I can not think now because I have to calculate this!")

Evidently we think with our brains, but in a rather abstract, vague way.

And finally, the most interesting thing I found about your question is that it could be asked by any English-speaking person.

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

@you_wu :
«But please take my message easy.»
😊
Really, I'm very happy to answer your question. You come with a question and very valid arguments... So please, don't worry about that at all! I just want to help, and I am very happy doing my best to clarify concepts.

What I mean, ist that we might have a foot in two different camps. 
I'm talking about language, mostly of the use and meaning of "to think" and "to conceive". But we might have entered into philosophical matters, and to that, I only have my point of view to give you.

But look, as you have pointed above, the brain has other duties like perceptions.
We can hear with our ears, but we listen with our brain; then, we can "think" about what we listen. But "to listen" ≄ "to think". You can say that "to listen" is just a tool for "thinking".

In the same way, the brain have other processes like "to calculate" or "to compare". But "to calculate" ≄ "to think", and "to compare" ≄ "to think" either. They are also used by the process of thinking by the brain just as tools.
▪︎I’m comparing these two images.
▪︎I’m thinking these two images.❌
▪︎I’m thinking about these two images.✅
(☝this last example have no real limitations, and the images can not necessarily have any comparison point. Or, you can think about a previous comparison.)

@you_wu :
«Isn’t calculations a kind of thought?»
And the same with calculation: 
🍎+🍎=🍎🍎.
The brain does that, but "that" is not "to think", it is "to calculate". To calculate is to determine a value. Then, we can think that we have to buy two apples, one for you one for me. The brain process of thinking uses the brain process of calculating as a tool to come with the opinon of buying two apples.

@you_wu :
«We use our “recall” function in that procedure.»
When we “recall”, I believe it happens exactly the same thing, it is also a tool, probably the most used tool by the process of thinking, thus, we use "to think" referring to memories.
▪︎I’m thinking about last night.
(☝but here, I think what we really are saying is: «I have remembered last night, I have made a serial of images, and now I am thinking about those images.»)

Therefore, "thinking" uses "inputs" calling brain processes (like hearing, or reading, or imagining, or even memory...), then (and meanwhile),  also may call working procedures (that are also in the brain, like comparing, or calculating, or memorizing...). Yes😊, I am comparing the brain with a computer... But the idea is that "thinking" is the basic process that figures and coordinates all out (to come with opinions, answers, results, whatever...).

@you_wu : 
«[ ...] we could call this mental process a conception, right? But isn’t it still a thought?»
When thinking, (maybe!!) we might also use the very beginning of conceiving as an "Input" tool, what triggered up all. We think about it, [we conceive (about) it❌], the idea gets some shape, we temporarily store it, we can think about it later, we might like some parts of it, we might discharge what we don't like, or change it, or forget it... Sometimes consciously, sometimes unwillingly... All this in months or maybe in less than en second! And after all that, and maybe with much more dedication, we still can not guarantee that we have conceived something. So, in order to conceive we must think, to make some sense, to have a running order for the ideas, to judge the value of the whole idea... but "to conceive" is not "thinking", the same way that "to develop" a proyect is not "thinking", and "to conceive" and "to develop" use almost the same mental procedures.

All this being said, I add that brain procedures and functions are complex and very extensive. We might understand the language, and still don't understand completely our brains. I wish 🙄...

@you_wu :
«[...] so I decided to draw it. Here is the picture finished.” This example can also be applied to stories.»
You can be 80 years old, and looking at that river hanging on your wall, you might say: 
▪︎I conceived of this picture in my dreams.
▪︎I thought of painting this river as soon as I woke up from a dream...
Or you could as well become a successful painter, and you can then talk about many conceiving moments. (But not "thinking moments"❌, not referring to the beginning of your paintings)

The line here is not in the meaning of the word "conceive", but in the mind of the speaker. It depends on how important might be for you the origin of something in particular. You, also as a famous painter, could say about another picture:
▪︎No, I did not conceive this painting at all. I started to make some stains, and I finished when I thought there were enough.

And for instance, I would never say "I have conceived this post.", even though I have been thinking about it for quite some time! It sounds very unnatural!!

**  note that a dream, and particularly "remembering a dream", can also be an input for thinking or other processes of the brain, as conceiving.

I hope I have not made you more unclear about all this 🤔😊... And ask as much as you need!!! (I will answer, even if it takes a little time.)

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

As you wish.

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

@you_wu :
«I must be very stubborn. [..] I have to say again I am really stubborn.»

I wouldn't think such a thing at all! It is a a pleasure reading you and understanding what you mean. I am a bit perseverant myself.

Your concepts are very good and regarding what the brain does, I can not disagree at all.

@you_wu :
«What I said above might sound ridiculous because it perhaps goes against the concept of “to think” in English.»

It doesn't sound ridiculous either! Precisely, I want to talk again about the concept of "thinking". It seems you consider the following es true

⑥ [All brain activity] - [perception] = [to think],

but "to think", an English word, is just that: one word. A verb. And in English vocabulary, "⑥" is untruth.

@you_wu :
«We just didn’t match the same name to a same thing. [...] Because communications need a same concept.»

It does. I only want to tell you that you can not swap "to think" with "to conceive" when speaking in English, but for the exceptions in ②, ③ and ④. That is why I put so many "❌ marks" within my writings, so you could see the differences.  
All I want is you to use those English words correctly, and not confuse them because of me.

@you_wu :
«Calculating and other actions of the brain are another different kind of thinking.»

In the same way as above, in English language, you can't either interchange "calculating" with "thinking". (Even though, you "feel" you are thinking when doing a precise calculation.)

▪︎I am adding 2+2. 
▪︎I am thinking 2+2.❌
▪︎I am calculating 2+2.✅
(☝English language)

⌘•⌘•⌘•⌘•⌘

@you_wu :
«Yes, that “to reach/grab an object in the mind” is thinking, whether it is deliberate or spontaneous, has been what I meant from the beginning.»

Exactly! You can be thinking about taking something, your arm extends and your hand grabs the object!

@you_wu :
«We know that we are thinking because the function of perception is there.»

Yes, ¿and do you know?, we have 5 well known perceiving senses, but there is also another one, a sense of feeling ourselves "somehow", a perception of our particular "form" or position, the sense of proprioception. But we better not get into this 🤭...

@you_wu :
«And by the way perceptions are along with all the mental moments of all the faculties of our body.»

It's scary if I think about it too much. But it is fascinating, indestanding the way you see it! Perhaps it has something to do with "to think" in your own language, Simplified Chinese?

Well, in any case,  I will be happy just knowing that you see the difference between the English words "thinking" and "conceiving", and the rest, even if you don't agree completley.

@you_wu :
«Using “conceiving” could make people better understand what kind of thought it was. It’s my current view.»

I can figure that much! And in a way yes, just in a conceptual way, but I could not have used "thinking" in stead.

@you_wu :
«I am really stubborn. I will be glad if you forgive me and kindly tolerate me for that.»

You know, nothing to forgive!

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

@you_wu :
«^_^»

LOL 😄🙂.

@you_wu :
«Firstly, there is one thing I need to clarify:
[that “to reach/grab an object in the mind” is thinking], what I mean by this is: An image or any other objects presenting in our brain at the moment. So this image is grabbed by our brain.»

In that case, I totally and utterly agree with you! That is one thing that our brain does when we are thinking. (That is so, of course, with the little knowledge I do have about the subject. Only what I feel.)

@you_wu : 
«In Chinese language, there are also some specific words of mental actions that can not be replaced by "thinking", but we understand that they are supported by thinking.»

Yes, yes, yes, @you_wu !!! I am quite glad you wrote that!

A few years ago, I read about a test done on children from all over the world. While looking at a picture similar to the one below 👇, and answering the question "What is missing?", most European children said "the mouth", while a large number of Chinese children answer "The body" 😉. So I thought that we could conceive of things differently. Talking to you, I've even thought that we might think differently (the procedures)... But probably not, now I am convinced that there are only slight differences like those I might have with a brother of mine.

@you_wu :
«(This paragraph is for further explaning my idea in my last message. And the last sentence is connected with the sentence of [that “to reach/grab an object in the mind” is thinking.])»

Yes I understand, thankyou very much.

@you_wu :
«And could you please conclude the concept of "to think" from your messages?»

But of course! I will.
(I always say the same with different words.)

@you_wu :
«But if it is from the first paragraph of your first message, "to conceive" should be included in "to think", as what you said "to think" =>mental procedure. "To conceive" should also belong to mental procedure.»

There are both mental procedures, but not equal. Same than building houses and painting pictures are hand made (with tools) but they are neither equal.

@Chechina or I :
«○ to conceive ⇒ the starting point of the process of creating something.
● to think ⇒ mental procedure (calculation, memory and decision-making), a much more abstract process.»

Yes, I repeat myself,
• conceiving (talking about something new), those first thoughts that made possible the development of the idea.
• thinking is a much more abstract process.

@you_wu internet findings:
«Conception involves an internal process of thoughts that produces new results or ideas.

Conception is always related to an action that is done with the mind and involves deep imagination and thought process. »

Yes, that refers to my number  ③,
«③ For mental images...
○ to conceive [of something] = to image [something], to use the imagination to generate a mental image, but never to remember.»

That is what makes conception different, and the key words here are "produces NEW results". Those new results deferentiate the concept of conceiving from thinking, from perceiving, from developing or other brain procedures. Obviously another thought process.

In a word, what we both have said above:
[to conceive] - pregnancy ∈ [to think]
or same here,
[to conceive] ∩ [to think] ∈ [to think].

@you_wu :
«You will get what I meant in my last message if you get the meaning obove. [...] I would like to hear your comment.»

In essence, I do not disagree with anything you have written. I am learning, learning a a lot may I add. From my first message onwards, I have only explained the English usage, not how our brain works, where I only speculate and wonder.

I have read again your previous message bearing in mind what you've just said, that the reaching/grabbing objects is something our brain does when thinking... LOL 😄, I am laughing at myself because my own thinking is really a chaos procedure, with something of what you have described (the grabbing of objects in or by my brain), but mainly they are unconscious thoughts just like crossing a field of meteorites, many of them rush past and get lost in space and time. I don't know either if I think of objects, images, or concepts; neither do I know in what terms, because like 90% or more of my thinking doesn't make really any sense at all, or I just forget them.

I honestly think you have perfectly understood all these concepts. I have no doubt you understand the brain better than I do. But please keep telling me if I can be of further help.

🙂🙂

Chechina · Answer

Oh, thank you, thank you @you_wu !!
🤗🤗🤗
Thank you so very much for your gift, I really appreciate it.
I am astonished, you are so kind.
And I have also enjoyed this complicated post so much. You have made me laugh, you have made me "think" a lot, and now you have made me feel la little embarrassed.

Thanks to you too @you_wu for all along the way. We both know you are brilliant, and you will conceive many things for sure.

Thank you again!

🙂🙂

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen to conceive und to think ?Du kannst auch einfach Beispielsätze geben.

Conceive means you create the idea in your mind. But you can think about something someone else created

Conceive means you create the idea in your mind. But you can think about something someone else created

As you wish.

🙂🙂

Stellen Sie Muttersprachlern kostenlos fragen

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen to conceive und to think ?Du kannst auch einfach Beispielsätze geben.

Conceive means you create the idea in your mind. But you can think about something someone else created

Conceive means you create the idea in your mind. But you can think about something someone else created

As you wish.🙂🙂

Stellen Sie Muttersprachlern kostenlos fragen

As you wish.

🙂🙂