Is thinking a form of work?

Answer 1

It takes energy (bio-electrical energy) to think, but thinking itself is not energy.

Energy can be described as the measurable power that is needed to bring about physical change.

Thinking is an internal process, powered by energy.

When a person decides to do something, and the brain instructs the body to move in some way, it can only do so by using the energy stored in the muscles etc.

Thinking, by itself, will not move your legs. It is the nervous system which passes the instruction along, using electrical-chemical impulses. Then the connecting muscles and tendons, with their stored energy, act in unison to move the limbs. Without the energy in the nervous system and in the blood and body tissues, nothing will happen by thought alone!

THE METAPHYSICAL ASPECT

Although thinking is not a physical force, in a metaphysical sense both thoughts and feelings are powerful forces which move people to do things.

For example, reasoning on the matter may motivate a student to spend some time researching and studying rather than relaxing. The thoughts and logic inspire change. But, of course, the actual physical energy for the action does not come from the brain.

In similar ways our emotions and feelings move us to do things. For example when we are excited or frightened the adrenal glands are instructed to release epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream. This hormone and neurotransmitter courses through the veins and boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, and increases blood-sugar levels. These sugars and body fats etc are the energy sources in the body, not the adrenalin, and not the emotion itself.

SUMMARY

'Thinking' is not a physically measurable energy or energy source. But, even so, thoughts and feelings are, and can be, powerful forces in our lives.

Answer 2

Thinking is not a work by body, but by our brain. Painting, tailoring etc., etc., are work by body. Actually work done by applying force is called work by the science