I was stuck in the lift on Saturday night, for an hour - result of a power cut. It was dark and I couldn't open the doors. No mobile, no light, I sat in darkness in my 60-minute, 8x4 cell, captivated by my own thoughts. I was in no hurry to get out, someone walked by and shone a torch into the lift. They probably thought I was nuts to sit there, so calm and wait for the power to come back.
My thoughts have a mind of their own. Errr... yeah, that's what I meant. Its like a push and a pull, a disagreement, a justification for random impulses. The neocortex in the cerebral hemisphere is the seat of reasoning in the brain. Also called the neopallium, this section of the brain is more developed in humans than in most other vertibrates. The neocortex is responsible for the evolution of intelligence. It helps us make up reasons for all the stupid things we do, like wrecking our bodies or doing things that we normally wouldn't. Alcohol first impairs the neocortex - hence we start losing our power to reason.
The maintenance guy asked me later why I didn't shout out and call for help. I wanted to, but my better judgement prevailed. I finally managed to get some alone time, no distractions, just me and my thoughts.
Translated the right way, Descartes actually said -
I am thinking, therefore "I" exist!
I am thinking, therefore "I" exist!
Eventually, I probed around the wall in between the lift doors, found the emergency release and ended my confinement, satisfied that I'd spent some quality time with me.