How do we know the existence of something missing? How do we know the existence of something we do not have? How do we know the existence of something we have never seen? How do we know the existence of something that never exists?
All are because of language.
Without names and words, we have no chance to talk about it. Not only talking about it but impossible to think about it or recall it for yourself.
Many animals collect stuff and bring them to their nest. If you try to take one of them when the owner’s present, you might have to fight for it. However, if you take it during his absence, he won’t notice it.
Noticing absence is a very interesting cognitive activity. I strongly believe this ability is unique to humans. We have names and words that represent things, and these names and words allow us to recognize them in their absence.
What is the difference between the absence and something that does not exist? Not much if one focuses on the present moment. Either way, it does not exist in one’s current physical senses. The difference comes when we consider time. The absence means that it was or will be sensible in the past or the future. Language allows one to capture the past and future. In other words, without language that represents things, our mind only lives in the present sensible moment.
Absence, that is, non-existence in the current senses, cannot be cognized without language. It is simply inconceivable through the senses but is conceived in language cognition.
Meditation is the activity of focusing on the current senses without language. When you guide yourself into the current moment by focusing on your breathing, the only inputs your mind receives are the senses. Then, time disappears. Any absence that bothers you disappears – because concerns in your mind only exist in language. Fulfillment. Athletes often say this as a zone. They recall a tiny moment as an exaggeratedly long period or long hours as an extremely short period.
Interestingly, language appears also essential for the activity of owning beyond carrying/holding, which accompanies senses. Humans can own something outside of their current senses, such as property. Owning is the exclusion of access by others despite its availability (i.e. non-use of the owner). Names and words are prerequisites for owning because the concept demands cognition of absence.
Many animals show habits of collection. Are they just collecting stuff or collecting it for storage for future usage? The habits of the collection can be independent of intention. However, this unintentional habit may support the continuity of life. Whether a collection is useful for someone is not an issue for collectors. Since a collection is not owned by collectors, it can be shared with others. Perhaps collectors do not care/notice even if all collections have disappeared.
Squails put stuff into a hole dug on the grounds before winter. They collect. Are they storing for winter? Do squails remember where and what they put? Do they come back to recover them? Or do other squails randomly dig the area and find them? A habit of random collection and random digging. Maybe later, this random collection could cause unintentional consequential sharing. No one owns it. No one has intention. But this sloppiness creates consequential sharing, which supports others, including the future oneself.
Without names, absence cannot be cognized. Without language, the past and future cannot be cognized. One can live only at the present moment with fulfilment.
Once a name is attached, absence becomes noticeable. This seems to be the foundation of the current marketing economy. The advertisement forces people to recognize the absence of something. It emphasizes missing opportunities instead of appreciating their fulfilment. To create a value, a name is needed to separate it from others - this is branding. Then, educate people to realize it and chase it as it is absent in you. Something abundant has no value, and no one cares who lives in its abundance, although it is the essential richness of the environment.
Language-based cognitive ability allows humans to make predictions and preparations. This ability also brought anxiety and anticipation. Values are common predictions in the local group with names but not the abundance that is the nameless background supporting all values. The society shares values and keeps them consistent. Education is making kids follow their local values and common predictions. It is necessary for a successful life in the society. However, each society is fundamentally supported by a nameless background abundance. Because it is nameless, we often ignore/forget their essential existence.
Local abundance is the richness of its environment, but it usually does not have a name. Ironically, putting a name on the abundance creates value, however, as soon as putting a name on, it compromises the abundance. After all, abundance is nameless and valueless. Value is comparable, but abundance is not. The ability of language is the representation of things. However, it can only represent an extracted part but not a whole. Much left behind.
Comments