Full Idea
Thinking as an activity is the active universal, and indeed the self-actuating universal, since the act, or what is brought forth, is precisely the universal.
Gist of Idea
The act of thinking is the bringing forth of universals
Source
Georg W.F.Hegel (Logic (Encyclopedia I) [1817], §20)
Book Reference
Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'The Hegel Reader', ed/tr. Houlgate,Stephen [Blackwell 1998], p.139
A Reaction
One should contemplate animal thought in the light of this remark. Thought requires the recognition of types of things, and resemblances, and repetitions, and patterns. Language consists almost entirely of universals.
Related Idea
Idea 15609 The sensible is distinguished from thought by being about singular things [Hegel]