On the Nature of Thought Or, The act of thinking and its connexion with a perspicuous sentence

"On the Nature of Thought" by John Haslam is an exploration of how we think and how it relates to language. Published in 1835, the book talks about how thought is closely tied to our ability to form clear sentences. Haslam looks at the physical side of thought, claiming that understanding language is key to expressing and grasping what we think. He argues that instead of focusing on abstract ideas away from language, using words is actually the main way we think. The book explains how language helps us build and share thoughts, pointing out how we use our senses to form ideas, and the role of perceptions in this process. Haslam critiques older theories that don't fully connect words and thoughts, suggesting that a solid understanding of language can sharpen our minds and improve how we reason and express ourselves; and invites us to rethink how we think and the importance of language.