From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@tiscali.co.uk)
Date: Thu Sep 04 2003 - 19:48:02 BST
Hi Andy, Platt, others,
Briefly on this:
[Platt]
> > Would you elaborate on self-consciousness as a property of language? I
> > always considered properties of language to be grammar like nouns,
> > verbs, adjectives, active/passive voices, similes, metaphors, etc. To
> > include self-consciousness among such properties is a stretch to say
> > the least.
[Andy]
> True enough! When I say self-consciousness is a property of language I mean we
> would not have the ability to know that we are conscious beings without it. We
> would have no concept of thoughts without language. This is a extremely
> troubling concept, but I don't think it is that out of the ordinary.
> WIttgenstein and others have said similar things. And Scott's interest in
> consciousness began from his study in computer science on language. So, I think
> he understands where I am coming from when I say that.
Sam says: I think self consciousness is a property of language in the same way that organic material
is a "property" of the organic level - it can't exist without it, but they are really quite
different things. That depends on seeing language as a social phenomenon of course, which some
disagree with.
Sam
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