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Date Posted: 09:22:59 07/18/00 Tue
Author: SwimmingUpstream
Subject: Re: IDEAS PRECEED LANGUAGE
In reply to: Jonathan Gulson 's message, "Re: IDEAS PRECEED LANGUAGE" on 07:41:51 06/27/00 Tue

Dear Jonathan,

If ideas preceed language, we would live in a very complex and confusing world.

Perhaps we do -- at least as very young children. For instance, an infant learns that if he wails he will receive attention from an adult. There seems to be some disagreement about HOW the infant actually learns this, but is he learning it by means of LANGUAGE? Or is he learning it by means intuitive or imaginative or both and a priori language (symbols, etc.)?

I think the imagination has a capacity beyond Language. And I suspect Language is a tool of the critical faculties, a tool that too often becomes master of the imagination. What is that aphorism about fire -- it is a useful servant, but a fearsome master? Methinks language and fire have much in commom.

Kindest Regards

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