Thinking vs. Feeling — What's the Difference?
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Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 3, 2023
Thinking involves logical reasoning and analysis, while Feeling pertains to emotions and subjective experiences.
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Difference Between Thinking and Feeling
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Thinking and Feeling are two fundamental aspects of human cognition and experience. Thinking generally refers to the process of using logic, analysis, and reason to form conclusions or make decisions. It's an objective approach where facts, data, and rationale take precedence. Feeling, on the other hand, involves our emotional responses, intuitions, and subjective experiences. It's less about logic and more about personal values and emotions.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
In many contexts, Thinking is associated with the brain's cognitive functions. It's the act of pondering, assessing, and drawing conclusions based on available information. For instance, a mathematician uses thinking to solve a complex equation. Feeling, conversely, is tied to our heart or gut instincts. It represents our internal emotional state, ranging from happiness and love to sadness and anger. When someone says they have a "gut feeling," they're usually referring to an instinctual, emotional response.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
Comparison Chart
Role in Decision Making
Evaluates objective criteria
Gauges based on personal values
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
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Definitions
Thinking
The use of reason and logic in problem-solving.
His strategic thinking saved the company from bankruptcy.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Feeling
An emotional state or reaction.
He had a feeling of joy after hearing the good news.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
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Feeling
Intuitive awareness or instinct.
She had a strong feeling that something was wrong.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Thinking
The process of forming thoughts.
Early morning is when my thinking is the clearest.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Feeling
Empathetic understanding or disposition.
He spoke with so much feeling and passion.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Thinking
Cognitive activity in the brain.
Constant thinking can lead to mental fatigue.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Feeling
Feeling was originally used to describe the physical sensation of touch through either experience or perception. The word is also used to describe other experiences, such as "a feeling of warmth" and of sentience in general.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
The process of considering or reasoning about something
The selectors have some thinking to do before the match
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
Using thought or rational judgement; intelligent
He seemed a thinking man
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
An idea or belief, especially a vague or irrational one
He had the feeling that he was being watched
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The capacity to experience the sense of touch
A loss of feeling in the hands
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
A way of reasoning; judgment
To my thinking, this is not a good idea.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A sensitivity to or intuitive understanding of
She says I have a feeling for medicine
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
Characterized by thought or thoughtfulness; rational
We are thinking animals.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
Present participle of think
I'm thinking about inventing a new perpetual-motion machine.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A sensation experienced through this sense
Enjoyed the feeling of rain on my face.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
Having the faculty of thought; cogitative; capable of a regular train of ideas; as, man is a thinking being.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A physical sensation other than one experienced though touch
A feeling of warmth.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
The act of thinking; mode of thinking; imagination; cogitation; judgment.
I heard a bird so sing,Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the king.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
The process of thinking (especially thinking carefully);
Thinking always made him frown
She paused for thought
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Strong mental agitation or excitement involving the emotions
Eyes that showed deep feeling.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Thinking
The act of considering or reflecting on something.
Her thinking on the subject has evolved over the years.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Feeling
The capacity to experience refined emotions; sensitivity; sensibility
A man of feeling.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Feelings Susceptibility to emotional response; sensibilities
The child's feelings are easily hurt.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
An awareness or impression
He had the feeling that he was being followed.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
An opinion based strongly on emotion; sentiment
Voters' feelings on tax reform.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A general impression conveyed by a person, place, or thing
This office has the feeling of a fortress.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The emotions thought to be conveyed or intended by a work of art
The painting's feeling of anguish.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Emotionally sensitive.
Despite the rough voice, the coach is surprisingly feeling.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Expressive of great sensibility; attended by, or evincing, sensibility.
He made a feeling representation of his wrongs.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Sensation, particularly through the skin.
The wool on my arm produced a strange feeling.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Emotional state or well-being.
You really hurt my feelings when you said that.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Emotional attraction or desire.
Many people still have feelings for their first love.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Intuition.
He has no feeling for what he can say to somebody in such a fragile emotional condition.
I've got a funny feeling that this isn't going to work.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Possessing great sensibility; easily affected or moved; as, a feeling heart.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Expressive of great sensibility; attended by, or evincing, sensibility; as, he made a feeling representation of his wrongs.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The sense by which the mind, through certain nerves of the body, perceives external objects, or certain states of the body itself; that one of the five senses which resides in the general nerves of sensation distributed over the body, especially in its surface; the sense of touch; nervous sensibility to external objects.
Why was the sightTo such a tender ball as the eye confined, . . . And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused?
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
An act or state of perception by the sense above described; an act of apprehending any object whatever; an act or state of apprehending the state of the soul itself; consciousness.
The apprehension of the goodGives but the greater feeling to the worse.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The capacity of the soul for emotional states; a high degree of susceptibility to emotions or states of the sensibility not dependent on the body; as, a man of feeling; a man destitute of feeling.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
Any state or condition of emotion; the exercise of the capacity for emotion; any mental state whatever; as, a right or a wrong feeling in the heart; our angry or kindly feelings; a feeling of pride or of humility.
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind.
Tenderness for the feelings of others.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
That quality of a work of art which embodies the mental emotion of the artist, and is calculated to affect similarly the spectator.
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The experiencing of affective and emotional states;
She had a feeling of euphoria
He had terrible feelings of guilt
I disliked him and the feeling was mutual
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A physical sensation that you experience;
He had a queasy feeling
I had a strange feeling in my leg
He lost all feeling in his arm
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
The sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin;
She likes the touch of silk on her skin
The surface had a greasy feeling
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
An intuitive understanding of something;
He had a great feeling for music
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Fiza Rafique
Apr 14, 2022
Feeling
A belief not based on fact or evidence.
I have a feeling she will be late today.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
Feeling
Physical sensation not connected to cognition.
There's a feeling of numbness in my leg.
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Fiza Rafique
Sep 27, 2023
FAQs
How is feeling different from thinking?
Feeling pertains to emotions, intuitions, and subjective experiences, while thinking is logical and analytical.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
Is thinking always objective?
While thinking aims to be objective through logic and reason, personal biases can sometimes influence it.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
What does thinking generally involve?
Thinking involves using logic, analysis, and reason to form conclusions or make decisions.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
How do thinking and feeling influence behavior?
Thinking guides systematic actions, while feeling influences behavior based on emotional states and values.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
Can thinking and feeling coexist in decision-making?
Yes, many decisions involve both logical reasoning (thinking) and emotional considerations (feeling).
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
Are feelings always irrational?
No, feelings can be based on intuition and experiences, which might not be immediately rational but can still be valid.
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Fiza Rafique
Oct 03, 2023
Author Spotlight
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content editor at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
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Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.