2007-04-03 05:04:20 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
This is outside our realm of experience, in terms of asking what it would be like "without" a key element that is necessary to our current experiences...
but you can ask about the experiences we DO have...
and ask:
do I have thoughts that do not come in the form of linguistic constructions?
(you might find that the answer is yes, if you consider images in the mind that are brought about independently of language -- but also "no" in the sense that, without language, all we would have would be pictures and no power to reason)
and you can answer your question about "without knowing you can have a thought"
by the way in which you choose to define "inner thought" -- if inner through by its nature requires consciousness, then no, it would not be possible to have a thought without being aware of it...
2007-04-03 05:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by Steve C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are cases of people with no language acquiring language later in life than most of us do.
Yes, they thought before they had language.
Oliver Sacks (Robin Williams plays him in Awakenings, though they changed his name) discusses this in his book about the world of the Deaf.
And there's a book called "Man Without Words" that is about a man who learned his first language in adult-hood.
I don't understand the first half of your question. Most of the thoughts we have we aren't thinking bout the fact that we are having a thought, we just have it.
But I'm not sure if that's what you mean.
2007-04-03 13:15:17 · answer #2 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, it just wouldn't be done with words. Babies communicate with gestures and grunts and laughter. And if yoy check out Animal Planet, there are critters with storms of inner thoughts, and they don't know any words.
2007-04-03 12:11:50 · answer #3 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, thought is an essential part of everyone. If you had no language, you'd think in feelings or images.
2007-04-03 12:18:54 · answer #4 · answered by Elven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without a language, definitly. A dog isn't a dog but that which exist before you name it dog.
2007-04-03 12:14:59 · answer #5 · answered by guy o 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the mind has no language.
u can think without thinking about thinking
2007-04-03 12:07:46 · answer #6 · answered by kevin h 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If someone knows you need something, what would you prefer, a lecture about it, or just to be given what you need?
2007-04-03 12:09:59 · answer #7 · answered by Alex 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
definitely
2007-04-03 13:50:45 · answer #8 · answered by heartofgold 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋