Thinking Together: A preliminary sketch
“Thinking together” is a social phenomenon in which two (or more) agents actively explore a problem or topic through a process of coming to understand one another, with the goal of reaching a singular understanding of the problem or topic at hand. An analysis of this phenomenon provides insight into the nature of collective belief formation. Collective beliefs can be ascribed to groups in virtue of the members acting as if they hold a belief in circumstances in which their status as a group member is salient. However, it may be argued that in such circumstances, ascribing a collective belief is inappropriate, for what is really going on is better described as “collective acceptance.” I argue that when the processes that constitute the formation of a group view take on a certain phenomenological form and are shaped by certain commitments, then we can properly speak of collective belief formation. I speak of these processes as “coming to understand another agent” and “reaching a singular understanding” in light of recent discussions of understanding as a unique cognitive achievement that differs from knowledge. I explain the concept of understanding phenomenologically and structurally. Understanding depends on a certain structure, which I describe as a horizon, which allows an agent to situate a piece of information within a network of meaningful relations. Furthermore, coming to understand something is an experience with the distinctive phenomenal character of “grasping.” Evidence of someone’s understanding is found in his ability to provide explanations that bring others to take his view to be true.
Group members can be committed to a process of coming to understand one another. In these cases membership in the group entails making oneself understood and attempting to understand others. Furthermore, groups can be committed to a process of reaching a singular understanding, i.e., an official group view. In these cases membership in the group does not entail coming to understand the other members or making oneself understood. However, in groups where both commitments are in place—coming to understand others and forming a singular understanding—thinking together is taking place. It is this sense of thinking together that I wish to explicate in order to provide the groundwork for considerations of the special value this phenomenon has for human life.
