But like the chicken and egg paradox, how can one come before the other? I was incapable (I think) of formulating even the concept of "Gestalt" until I had heard the word for it, had it explained to me.
Now I see the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts everywhere.
Thought exists without language, does it not? How can dogs dream of sticks and walks and chasing squirrels? Can't cats see a high place and think about how to reach it, those aren't thoughts?
The word Language comes from the word for tongue, language therefore is grounded in human ability to make complex thoughts borne out in simplistic squishy tongue air sounds.
We could extend language beyond tongues though, if we think of binary or rust or gobbledygook made up languages impossible to speak. Those still Express thoughts, though they be divorced from tongues.
So, IMO, thoughts are broader than language, which can come close to thought but can not adequately encapsulate the color red, a beautiful piece of music, or a cat's devilish designs.
"Thought exists without language, does it not?"
This is a very interesting question.
The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.” Wittgenstein
"How can dogs dream of sticks and walks and chasing squirrels?" Do Androids dream of electric sheep? :-)
You may want to read the books mentioned here. I found it so impressive, I bought a first issue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism_(psychology)
But like the chicken and egg paradox, how can one come before the other? I was incapable (I think) of formulating even the concept of "Gestalt" until I had heard the word for it, had it explained to me.
Now I see the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts everywhere.