Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> Communication of abstract meanings...?


Question: Communication of abstract meanings!.!.!.!?
what was the first most common way that humas communicated abstract meanings to each other according to Rousseau!? any one know!?

easy 10 points for the winner :D

thanksWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Rousseau was very wary of ascribing 'origins' of humanity and human communication!. He specifically points to the circularity, even the tautology , of the history of human communication!.
In other word language enables people to communicate abstract ideas whilst abstract meanings enable people to communicate, to engage in a form of language, with each other!.Now that is a circular explanation
He does attempt to distinguish between 'early humans in a state of nature' and humans with an ability to live in a society !. But he does this by using the example of the so called 'feral children' of his time!. These were children brought up without learning to communicate with other humans!. He drew an analogy between these children and the first several generationsof humans whom he describes as being in 'a state of nature'!.
So I guess the answer is 'language' but the answer, for Rousseau, itself creates a paradox !. Language is the communication of abstract ideas On the other hand abstract ideas are the basis of language!.
He does associate this development with our ability to be self conscious but again he gets caught in what we now call 'the chicken and egg' argument: That is:
we develop language to communicate with the 'other who sees us'!. but our concepts of the 'other who sees us' is itself a form of symbolic communication!. i!.e!.a language!.
In other words,the whole point of Rousseau's philosophy defies the notion of the key concept in your question: 'the first most common'
In summary , Rousseau never escapes the circularity of his analysis!.!.!.so the concept of 'the first' is unanswerable!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

through art and interpretative dance then by mathematics and philosophy!?
i have no clue, i guess i could goggle it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com