http://www.powells.com/review/2007_09_24.html?utm_source=review-a-day

Which leads me to question whether one might have an insight - a cognitive leap - apart from language. I think one might, since some animals problem solve. What say you smart critters?

I lay no particular claim to smarts, but it seems to me we solve many everyday problems in our mind's eye without accessing words

I have read that Einstein said that he was able to think without language, and found it useful. But I have no references.

I bought this book last week and am slowly working through it. Pinker crams so much information into a short period that I find myself reading a chapter or so a night, so I can digest it all. I'll post more when I've finished.

The book sounds very interesting and quite appropriate for Wordcraft. We would appreciate your impressions, Sean. Asa, have you read it?

I agree it sounds interesting. I might well see if I can get a copy.

I've not read it, since I only learned about it through the review I posted. Give me some time! The review did prompt my question, however. I'm unsure regarding the nature of thought versus the nature of insight.

Colin McGinn's critique of Pinker (in part) says

quote:

It just doesn't seem true that everything nonphysical that we think about is metaphorical; for example, our legal concepts such as "rights" are surely not all mere metaphors, introduced on the shoulders of the concepts of intuitive physics.

I like very much Pinker's theory that language is like a grid built on just a few innate concepts which are, in essence: space, time, motion, substance. But I think McGinn has a good point, and that there are one or two "metaphysical" concepts wired in as well. I believe that's what all the
"Are we hard-wired for religion?" talk is about.

Mt newspaper carried a favourable review of The Stuff of Thought today. The reviewer said that she read it over a period of several evenings just before going to sleep; the sheer amount of information meant that she had to give up trying to read it in one or two sessions.

Douglas Hofstadter has an interesting review .

quote:

Originally posted by bethree5:

I think McGinn has a good point, and that there are one or two "metaphysical" concepts wired in as well. I believe that's what all the

Your link reminds me of Jung's idea of the collective unconscious.

Douglas Hofstadter has an interesting review.

I liked the review. I'll have to take a look at the book in question.

Phew! Looks like too academic of a read for me. Sounds like interesting ideas, though. Enjoy your new book!

quote:

Originally posted by goofy:
Douglas Hofstadter has an interesting review .

Just catching up, Goofy (>pant,pant<-- enjoyed the link very much. Nice thorough thought-provoking review.

quote:

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:

quote:

Originally posted by bethree5:

I think McGinn has a good point, and that there are one or two "metaphysical" concepts wired in as well. I believe that's what all the

Your link reminds me of Jung's idea of the collective unconscious.

Finally catching up on posts, Asa-- I was a lousy psych student in college, so I had to read Wiki on this. Right you are-- nothing new under the sun, is there? I was a hippie/ New-Ager, & came to the same concept via Jane Roberts' Seth books-- "cellular memory" (!)

So, old hippie, have you seen the movie, "What The (Bleep) Do We Know?"

quote:

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
So, old hippie, have you seen the movie, "What The (Bleep) Do We Know?"

Read this review before you see it:

quote:

Take home lesson: I can't emphasize enough how important it is that you not watch this movie.

Awwww, yeah, but it's such fun! Besides, much of it was shot in my neighborhood!

quote:

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
Awwww, yeah, but it's such fun! Besides, much of it was shot in my neighborhood!

Really? Cool. I haven't seen it, but I'm sort of curious despite the warnings. At least it'll be entertaining.

Asa, what neighborhood was that, Jupiter? har har, goofy, the review is a riot. my favorite line: "Hey, at least I haven't heard any chiropractors talking about quantum mechanics for more than ten minutes. I suppose that's the best I can hope for." (huh?)

I think on this cool autumn weekend, I'd rather curl up at home & watch another excellent movie, Plan 9 from Outer Space

quote:

Originally posted by bethree5:
Plan 9 from Outer Space

Widely considered to be the worst movie ever made. Personally I think both Santa Claus Conquers The Martians and Night of the Lepus with its killer bunny rabbits, give it a good run for its money.

At least Santa Claus Conquers The Martians is entertaining. I'd vote for Attack of the the Eye Creatures or Sidehackers because not only do they make no sense, they're boring. I might include Manos: Hands of Fate, but I can't be sure whether it would have been entertaining without Joel and the bots.

quote:

Originally posted by bethree5:
Asa, what neighborhood was that, Jupiter?

Adhara, actually

quote:

Adhara, actually

Is that one of Jupiter's moons?

quote:

Originally posted by arnie:

quote:

Adhara, actually

Is that one of Jupiter's moons?

http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/adhara.html

A friend sent me a link to a video of Pinker giving a talk at Google. It's over an hour long, but well worth a look-see. How cool!