Teleology & evolution: Vocal cord development (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 19:16 (2689 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: The fact that some thoughts are more complex than others does not mean that the invention of the words precedes the thought!

DAVID: I'm sure as you must think that the need for meaningful sounds created the drive for words, using the new larger brain provided by evolution. Brain first, new words next.

I don’t understand your syntax, but yes, I believe the need for meaningful sounds to express each thought/object/perception/suggestion/decision etc. created the drive for words. And yes, I believe humans use their brain, just as our fellow animals do. And yes, without a brain, humans would not be able to think the thoughts that require the sounds out of which humans have made words. How does this support your view that the sounds/words were invented before the objects/thoughts they describe?

I think in words. How do you think? My dog goes to the kitchen for water because he knows it is there, no thought involved but the recognition of thirst.