Title: Sociology of Human Consciousness

Abstract:
Human thought is mainly internalized conversation from one's social networks, carried in idea/symbols marked by emotions of social membership. Network ties are made of repeated conversations that are emotionally meaningful. Thought is predictable because people seek emotionally successful interactions and avoid unsuccessful ones, and their minds resonate with recent conversations and next upcoming conversations. Creativity is explained by location in networks of previously successful intellectuals, and the techniques evolving in these networks. This research is based on networks among philosophers and mathematicians, over long periods of world history, both East and West. Randall Collins is author of The Sociology of Philosophies: A Global Theory of Intellectual Change. Harvard University Press, 1998.