What came first: use or definition?) — baker
Wittgenstein doesn't make use of essences; that's part of the point of rejecting meaning as stuff in people's heads, together with showing how what is a simple depends on what you are doing - essence as a simple. — Banno
Something I learned many moons ago in my psychology of language class. From Wikipedia:
The hypothesis of linguistic relativity, also known as the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis, the Whorf hypothesis, or Whorfianism, is a principle suggesting that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview or cognition, and thus people's perceptions are relative to their spoken language.
I, and I think psychologists in general, were skeptical of this even back when I took the class, but I think there is something there. My children were all involved in a French Immersion program from the time they were in kindergarten. Watching them, it has always seemed to me that having two languages gives you two different minds.
I love German. I think being able to speak it a little opens me up to concepts and ways of thinking. On the other hand, I think that's the weak version of the Whorf hypothesis, i.e. some ideas are easier to express and come more naturally in one language vs. another, but it's possible to translate. Or, you can just steal the word. — T Clark
Lol, there aren't sentences in poetry... — Noble Dust
Not to be dramatic or self-important, but this "Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis" is exactly the same idea that I've felt intuitively for years without any special knowledge of the subject; — Noble Dust
Not all poems have sentences, but some do. — T Clark
As I noted, I think this is probably an oversimplification. — T Clark
In short, a language does not strictly exist in my head, no. Yet meaning - or, what is intended via symbols - does. — javra
Can you elaborate on why you think so? — Noble Dust
The idea that language encourages us to think in certain ways and limits our ability to think in others is very attractive. — T Clark
No worries, but to evade the circularity that could manifest in arguments, I did give two examples regarding the meaning of color that could be addressed by anyone if they were inclined to engage in an honest discussion regarding what I posted. A wink to Banno. — javra
Religion will do that to you. — Noble Dust
Maybe if I can find a fuck to give, I'll reply to you. — Banno
Yea, true, but only when it consists of following infallible folk. At any rate, doubt that Wittgenstein took himself to be such, though I can't say as much about some of his adorers. — javra
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