Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome | |||
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Language, philosophy: language is a set of phonetic or written coded forms fixed at a time for the exchange of information or distinctions within a community whose members are able to recognize and interpret these forms as signs or symbols. In a wider sense, language is also a sign system, which can be processed by machines. See also communication, language rules, meaning, meaning change, information, signs, symbols, words, sentences, syntax, semantics, grammar, pragmatics, translation, interpretation, radical interpretation, indeterminacy._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
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D. Dennett on Language - Dictionary of Arguments
I 269 Evolution/molecules/origin of life/Monod/Dennett: "Language" of DNA and its "readers" have gone through a common evolution. Neither works alone. ((s) See T. Deacon on >language and >brain.) I 474 Culture/Language/Dennett: For culture we need language, but language must first develop for its own reasons (because of the impossibility of foreseeing evolution). >Culture. I 516 Animal/Language: is it true, do dolphins and chimpanzees have some kind of language? So you can also call music and politics a kind of language. >Animal language. I 517 Language/Intelligence/Dennett: To what extent does language contribute to intelligence? Which forms of thinking require language? I 528 Language/Darwin: "Prerequisite for the development of long thoughts": Decisive for planning and persevering with long projects. - - - II 23/24 Consciousness/Language/Dennett: There is a view that certain beings may have consciousness, but for lack of language cannot communicate it to us. DennettVs: Why do I think this is problematic? For example, the computer can calculate even if no printer is connected. Our ideal way to get to know the spirit of others is language. It does not reach as far as you, but that is only a limitation of our knowledge, not a limitation of your mind. >Theory of mind. II 185 Think/Human/Dennett: Also we humans do not think many things, brush our teeth, tie our shoes, etc. We even answer questions without thinking. We call fleeting processes that last longer and gain more and more influence thoughts. Some of the (previously existing) mental content gains more influence through language. II 190 Language/thinking/Dennett: Thesis: There is no thinking without language. Cf. >Psychological theories on Language and Thought._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Dennett I D. Dennett Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, New York 1995 German Edition: Darwins gefährliches Erbe Hamburg 1997 Dennett II D. Dennett Kinds of Minds, New York 1996 German Edition: Spielarten des Geistes Gütersloh 1999 Dennett III Daniel Dennett "COG: Steps towards consciousness in robots" In Bewusstein, Thomas Metzinger, Paderborn/München/Wien/Zürich 1996 Dennett IV Daniel Dennett "Animal Consciousness. What Matters and Why?", in: D. C. Dennett, Brainchildren. Essays on Designing Minds, Cambridge/MA 1998, pp. 337-350 In Der Geist der Tiere, D Perler/M. Wild, Frankfurt/M. 2005 |