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Language mediates those interactions with the world. There is no unmediated interaction with the world. Those moments when one feels most directly in contact with reality, that is when one is so deep down inside language that one cannot see daylight at all.



I don't know about you, but as far as I can tell I mediate and manipulate the world with my body and senses without necessarily using language. In fact, I can often do both at once, for example, thinking about something entirely unrelated while jogging, and still making physical decisions and actions without invoking language at all. Plus, animals (especially lower order like amoebas) also mediate with the world without needing language.

As far as we can tell without messing with complex experiental concepts like qualia and the possibility of philosophical zombies, language mainly helps higher order animals communicate with other animals and (maybe) keep a train of thought, though there are records of people that say that they don't. And now also it allows humans talk to LLMs.

But I digress, I would say this is an open academic debate. Suggesting that there is always language deep down is speculation.




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