Human Communication, Language, and Symbolism
Myths and Science in Tribal Cultures
“The myth itself is the science of tribal peoples, who do not really know how to produce.”
No, this is not accurate in any way. First, myths are not science. Science asks about how things happen, whereas myths wonder about the meaning of those things. In other words, myths are not science but philosophy, a ‘narrated’ philosophy.
Tribal people have their own science, just as we have our myths. Their science has nothing to do with how natural phenomena are produced, but rather what sense they are intended to reflect on the existence of reality and humans within it.
Intentional Communication in Animals
What do you think of the phrase ‘animals are capable of intentional communication’?
That’s true… somewhat. Or false… to some extent. It is true that some animals can make use of intentional communication. Two examples are Koko, in a humanized context, or baboons among apes in the wild. However, these are exceptions.
Given the burden of animal instinct, most of their communication is reactive, a response to present stimuli, whether internal or external. That is a type of communication, among other things, unlike humans, which is mostly intentional.
Therefore, the statement is true but exceptional.
Analytic vs. Speculative Philosophy of Language
What’s the difference you see between the school of analytic philosophy of language and speculative philosophy of language?
Analytic philosophy of language focuses on the messages that we issue: whether they fit the criteria of truth or not. It focuses on the ‘analysis’ of messages.
Speculative philosophy focuses not on the messages but on the issuer, the person who uses language to reflect on what is distinctive.
Humans as ‘Homo Symbolicus’
Indicate what it means that humans are ‘homo symbolicus’.
As E. Cassirer said, the most characteristic aspect of humans, what distinguishes us most from animals, is that we need to ‘place ourselves in reality’ and give it meaning through symbols. That is, we cannot be human without linking ourselves to reality (‘reconnected,’ said Zubiri) except through symbols.
Therefore, every human being is symbolic, and only humans are symbolic. Hence, it is our defining characteristic to be ‘homo symbolicus’.
Decoration, Icon, Art, and Aesthetics
What is the difference between decoration, icon, art, and aesthetics?
- Decoration is making something more visible than the rest.
- An icon is an object that also adds meaning.
- Art is an icon that also causes an emotion.
- Aesthetics are social guidelines that indicate what emotions are and what is not art.
There are four distinct steps in the process of symbolization of art.
Creative Nature of Human Language
What does it mean that human language is ‘creative,’ and how does it relate to animal language, as we discussed in the notes?
Human beings have almost no innate (instinctive) signs of communication. Most are constructed (created). Both the order of signs (we transform signs and sounds, adding to a language, letters, nonverbal signs) and meanings (we create and transform meanings, developing unique messages; with limited signs, we can create infinite messages).
In contrast, although some animals also have a small part of communication learned signs (apes are capable, such as cases of ‘humanized’ apes, of learning many), animals, since they have their instinctive cargo, have resolved the issue of signs. They are not creative in their languages. It is thus a fundamental human characteristic (Chomsky) that reminds us that, for us, language is not only a means of communication but that it ‘is’ and ‘creates’ culture.
Creation Myths vs. Anthropogenic Myths
What is the difference between a creation myth and an anthropogenic myth?
A cosmogonic myth is a myth that expresses the sense of reality through a story of the origin of the world.
An origin myth is a myth that expresses the meaning of life through an account of human origin.
Why is the story originally used? Because the truth presented is metaphysical; it is essential… to say, ‘The human being is so’ (often, its ‘truth’ is placed in its origin).