Hi Derek,

perhaps you are right about my confusing of the two questions, I am always open to the idea that I am in error. But I think I what I was getting at here relates more to the questions that I put in response to a philosophy of despair - 'where to from here?' type questions. If there is no answer to these questions, if there is nowhere to go, then sure we might continue to think but what is the end of such thought. Is it thinking for the sake of thinking? Well fine. I certainly will not disallow that. But how many ways can you re-describe the despair before you become tempted by basket weaving?

Do I think that all thinking must be positive? No, not at all. For me critical thinking is the most important thinking of all. But, from where I sit, critique is rarely purely negative for criticism and the exposure of limitations is the key to making space for the new. I am critical of despair for the reason that, even where it is critical its critical voice seems to leave things right where they are. 
Perhaps we see things differently I despair of despair, but would be loath to just say that, for from where I sit that just leaves the despair right where it is. I have no answers here, just a computer and some spare time.

Phil