Appendix 13.

(522) [Language and abstract ideas]

It is impossible to invent a language for the human mind before the mind has abstracts ideas. No one can posit a sign for ideas they do not have. Rousseau's opinion that 'language cannot be invented without language' must be limited to the part of language dealing with abstract ideas. Because he did not make this distinction, he glimpsed a truth without demonstrating it. Indeed, as far as I know, no one since his time (including Bonald) has given a strict demonstration of this. But Rousseau's proposition, if restricted to ideas and abstract words, contains a basis of truth. First, no person cut off from the society of his fellows can invent a language. In this state he has no occasion to communicate his needs and thoughts to others, nor can they communicate theirs to him. Let us suppose that an individual person is living with other human beings who lack language. Two questions arise: could the others invent a language before forming some abstractions, or could they form these abstractions before inventing some kind of language or signs? My answer is 'No' to both questions. But to the question, 'Could these two things be done simultaneously, that is, discover some signs and by that act form abstractions?', I think the answer could be 'Yes' (cf. Psychology, vol. 2, Development of the Human Soul, 1456-1473).