hazmatgerman (X) Apr 5, 2012:

"thinking" is an ongoing individual or group process, "thought" a — mostly — set body of ideas. As "islamisches Denken" here exists for some period of time in the ST, "thinking" here would be too dynamic.

Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 5, 2012:

Then it must be differentiated in the text, at least the era or time-frame the subject lived/died in. Even if it is current, or modern, the man is a role-model, as far as I can decipher, so he influenced modern Islamic thought (ideology).

Barbara Schmidt-Runkel (asker) Apr 5, 2012:

Getting closer Helen and Ramey, I agree with both of you. The links that Helen posted shows the exact differentiation I need. Helen, it is indeed the current thinking that is meant here. There really isn't much context to give. As noted, the previous sentence refers to this person's death. The next one goes on to a different subject entirely. If there were more context I wouldn't have the problem. :-))

Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 5, 2012:

Yes Thinking is active, progressive, here and now. Thought, in combination with Islamic, considers the doctrine and its manifestations in everyday life. (Which is actually ideology :-))

Helen Shiner Apr 5, 2012:

current Islamic thinking http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/european-roots-of-an...

Helen Shiner Apr 5, 2012:

Islamic thought http://www.iiit.org/

Helen Shiner Apr 5, 2012:

@metargemet I would translate this as 'thought'. If you use 'thinking' it runs the risk of making it sound as if it is merely the CURRENT thinking on a particular issue, whereas 'thought' is more permanent. But then it depends on the surrounding context, and you give us so little to go on.

Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 5, 2012:

@Metargemet We follow an ideology that has been passed on or taught to us by a "master" or suchlike. The Islamic ideology influences much more than just thinking and we act and react with much more than our mental capacity. OF course, much more context would be needed to decide if this an ideology (idea!) or a "thinking" which only vaguely reflects our actions. Perhaps the Islamic idea? But then he wouldn't have been a Muslim.

Barbara Schmidt-Runkel (asker) Apr 5, 2012:

ideology Ramey, in this case I would see ideology as a synonym of "thought", because Webster also defines thought: the way of thinking of a class, culture or individual.

Barbara Schmidt-Runkel (asker) Apr 5, 2012:

Response to response to... Thank you for your hair splitting! This is just what I need. It's really helping. I agree with you, David. The outside world's engagement with this person is definitely not philosophical, but in imitating him. That makes me lean toward "thinking" and away from "thought".

Ramey Rieger (X) Apr 5, 2012:

ideology is what influences and forms us. According to Webster's: ..the way of thinking of a class, culture or individual

David Mossop Apr 5, 2012:

Response to response: I don't think it necessarily matters whether this person was influential through his thinking or through his actions - the fact that he was/is influential at all is the key point. The "Denken" refers to the outside world's engagement with him, not vice versa.

I see a barber shop's worth of split hairs before me ;)

Catherine Rushton Apr 5, 2012:

sounds good to me metargemet :-)

Barbara Schmidt-Runkel (asker) Apr 5, 2012:

Response Actually the previous sentence refers to the death of this person. But rus_cat's comment helps: he is a ruler and not a scholar or philosopher, so it was his actions that influenced "Islamisches Denken" not his ideas.

David Mossop Apr 5, 2012:

Thinking about it some more (no pun intended), I'd be inclined to go with "thinking", precisely because it does in this instance describe an ongoing process of engagement that is open to the influence of "So-und-so".

Catherine Rushton Apr 5, 2012:

Hi, would agree with David but would add that it might help to clarify whether the context prior to this sentence refers to philosophical or intellectual ideas - "thought" - or the events/history that drove the development of these - "thinking". Feel free to share the previous sentence if it would help.

David Mossop Apr 5, 2012:

I personally would distinguish between the two by saying that "thinking" describes the ongoing process and "thought" describes the product(s) of that process. Whether this is truly the case, and which is the more appropriate word, I do not know.

Barbara Schmidt-Runkel (asker) Apr 5, 2012:

Correction OOOPs! Sorry for the typos! Here's the correct sentence: "I will only consider answers that clearly define the difference between the two, "thinking" and "thought", in this context.