If someone brings up these topics in a conversation they are probably a high-level thinker

by Lachlan Brown | July 28, 2025, 11:57 am

We all encounter people who leave a lasting impression—not because they dominate the conversation, but because of the quality of what they say. High-level thinkers aren’t just intelligent. They’re curious, nuanced, and deliberate. They ask better questions, offer deeper reflections, and bring up topics that invite you to zoom out, question assumptions, or think more critically about the world.

So, how can you tell if someone is a high-level thinker just from casual conversation?

Look at what they talk about.

Here are 9 conversation topics that tend to reveal someone’s operating on a higher intellectual plane.

1. Metacognition: “Have you ever noticed how your thinking changes when you’re tired?”

High-level thinkers love thinking about thinking.

This topic might show up as a reflection on how their own decision-making shifts in different emotional states, or how biases affect perception. It’s not just about what they think—but how they think.

According to psychologist John Flavell, metacognition is one of the cornerstones of cognitive development. High-level thinkers naturally bring this up in conversations when they wonder aloud about why we believe certain things, how we reach conclusions, or why we keep repeating certain mistakes.

If someone’s comfortable dissecting their own mind, it’s a strong sign they’re operating at a high level of awareness.

2. First principles thinking: “But what’s the core assumption here?”

When someone challenges common beliefs by reducing them to their most basic components, you’re likely dealing with a high-level thinker.

This is the kind of conversation Elon Musk popularized with his “first principles thinking.” Instead of relying on analogy or tradition (“we’ve always done it this way”), first-principles thinkers ask: What are the fundamental truths?

They might question the logic behind university systems, the way we structure 9-to-5 jobs, or even the assumptions behind emotional reactions.

These aren’t casual questions—they’re foundational ones.

3. Paradoxes and moral dilemmas: “Can something be true and false at the same time?”

High-level thinkers don’t shy away from ambiguity. In fact, they often enjoy it.

They’re the people who bring up paradoxes in ethics, like the Trolley Problem, or wonder aloud whether we can ever be truly altruistic. They may ask whether freedom can exist without structure or whether technology is helping or harming our empathy.

These conversations aren’t designed to reach a conclusion—they’re designed to deepen understanding.

Wrestling with contradiction is a hallmark of advanced thinking.

4. Long-term thinking: “What might society look like in 100 years?”

If someone enjoys zooming out to think in decades or centuries instead of minutes or days, you’re talking to someone who sees beyond the surface.

Long-term thinkers aren’t caught up in trends or quick wins. They’re considering the implications of artificial intelligence, climate change, education systems, or aging populations—not just for today, but for future generations.

This mindset is deeply aligned with the Buddhist concept of interconnectedness and non-attachment. By stepping outside their ego and current moment, these thinkers imagine a bigger, broader picture.

5. Consciousness and self-awareness: “Do you think we have a true self?”

This is where psychology and philosophy intersect.

High-level thinkers are often fascinated by what consciousness is—and what it isn’t. Is it a soul? A byproduct of brain activity? A stream of moment-to-moment awareness?

These questions might sound abstract, but they reflect a deep desire to understand the nature of reality and identity. You’ll often find these thinkers reading Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle, or Buddhist philosophy. They’re more interested in presence and perception than performance and prestige.

6. Systems thinking: “Everything’s connected. Let’s look at the whole system.”

A high-level thinker doesn’t look at problems in isolation.

Instead, they consider systems—how parts influence each other, where feedback loops emerge, and how seemingly small tweaks create ripple effects. Whether they’re talking about health, economics, or human behavior, they’re always spotting patterns and connections.

You’ll notice them bringing up things like:

  • How school discipline policies impact long-term societal outcomes

  • Why fixing traffic congestion requires rethinking urban design

  • How personal habits are tied to larger cultural narratives

They think in circles and systems, not straight lines.

7. Philosophical questions: “What does it mean to live a good life?”

This one’s a classic.

While many people chase success, high-level thinkers question what success actually means. They reflect on values, legacy, meaning, and mortality—not in a morbid way, but as a compass for living intentionally.

They’re the kind of people who quote Marcus Aurelius or ask why we fear death more than a meaningless life.

This doesn’t mean they have all the answers. In fact, they often don’t. But they’re willing to wrestle with the big questions most people avoid.

8. The psychology of behavior: “Why do we act against our own interests?”

Many high-level thinkers are fascinated by behavioral psychology.

They bring up concepts like cognitive dissonance, ego defense mechanisms, confirmation bias, and emotional regulation—not to sound smart, but because they genuinely want to understand why we do what we do.

They may wonder:

  • Why people sabotage themselves

  • Why love turns into resentment

  • Why we struggle to change, even when we want to

This kind of conversation shows intellectual humility. Rather than blaming or judging, they seek to understand. They don’t reduce people to stereotypes—they explore inner complexity.

9. The unknown: “What if there’s something we’re completely missing?”

Perhaps the ultimate sign of a high-level thinker?

Their comfort with not knowing.

They’re not addicted to certainty. In fact, they’re skeptical of it. They’re curious about the edges of science, the mysteries of the universe, the limits of language, or the gaps in our perception.

They might muse about:

  • The nature of time

  • Whether reality is a simulation

  • How dogs perceive the world

  • Whether AI will ever be conscious

This kind of wonder—this humility before the unknown—is the mark of a mind that’s both sharp and expansive.

Final thoughts: It’s not about being smart. It’s about being interested.

High-level thinkers don’t always use big words or dominate conversations. In fact, many of them are quiet, thoughtful, and curious. What sets them apart isn’t raw intelligence—it’s depth of inquiry.

They’re not trying to be right. They’re trying to understand.

They ask better questions. They pause longer. They bring up topics that leave you thinking for hours afterward.

In a world of noise, high-level thinkers are signal.

And if you find yourself drawn to these topics too?

Chances are, you’re one of them.

Lachlan Brown

Lachlan Brown is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Brown Brothers Media, a digital publishing network reaching tens of millions of readers monthly. He holds a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies from Deakin University, though his real education came afterward: a warehouse job shifting TVs, a stretch of anxiety in his mid-twenties, and the slow discovery that studying the mind is not the same as learning how to live well. He started experimenting with Buddhist principles during breaks at the warehouse and eventually began writing about what he was learning. That writing became Hack Spirit, a widely read personal development site, and his book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism became a bestseller. His work breaks down complex ideas into frameworks people can apply immediately, whether they are navigating a career change, a difficult relationship, or the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Lachlan splits his time between Singapore and Saigon. He writes about high-performance routines, decision-making under pressure, digital innovation, and the intersection of Eastern philosophy with modern life. His perspective comes from having built things from scratch, failed at some of them, and learned that clarity comes from practice, not theory.