"basic thoughts" is an acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It does not have a precisely defined meaning, and its use will depend on context. For example, you could say, "I'm just thinking out loud, but here are some of my basic thoughts on the matter."
Elion has given him two basic thoughts to replace all the clutter in his mind.
As for their vision, the brothers talk of starting with basic thoughts: angels running, wings cut off as if by a taxidermist, door-to-door salesmen in dark suits, a Gypsy circus coming to town.
The Madagascar plan seems to have been "born" in the bureaus of the German Foreign Office, and Eichmann's own contribution to it turned out to owe a good deal to Dr. Löwenherz, whom he had called upon to put down "some basic thoughts" on how some four million Jews might be transported from Europe after the war — presumably to Palestine, since the Madagascar project was top-secret.
Choi finds motivation in more basic thoughts.
A few basic thoughts: More, faster, and better varied Internet access is good for our students, because they are entering into an increasingly digital-first world in which proficiency with computing products of every shape and size is a competitive advantage.
While non-Chinese analysts generally agree that the CPC has rejected orthodox Marxism Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought (or at least basic thoughts within orthodox thinking), the CPC itself disagrees.
The reason, of course, has everything to do with the wars of the Bush years, at home and abroad, which have left so many thoughtful people incapable of holding onto the most basic thought.
"The basic thought was, right now the system collects sentiment from two people, and we thought why stop at two?
The math behind it is complex, but the basic thought is not.
The basic thought that guides these specific means of national recovery is not nationally - narrowly nationalistic.
The basic thought is: "The methods [of science say, or whatever] can't be shown to be reliable in a noncircular fashion [insert skeptical argument].
