Mental Models of Purpose of College
2 years ago
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
systems of language and mathematics
I thought the most interesting part of Chapter 2 was the discussion of how we have culturally evolved complex language systems--but at the same time, mathematical systems aren't universal. It got me thinking about how much we think and act is influenced by these systems (whether they're the language we know or the way we approach mathematics). I got a little bit of background in the subject when I read Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" (and I know serious scientists and academics give him crap, but as a journalist, I love Gladwell), specifically the part about how the Chinese language makes it easier for children to count and progress quickly learning math than English does. And maybe this was something I missed or will be addressed later, but I'm assuming that means there's not only the difference between social learning and not social learning (other primates vs. humans) but there are fundamentally similar yet more and less effective methods of social learning?
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Matt I think you hit on some really interesting points. I think that a similar topic is our discussion on metaphors. Being limited by our language is for sure a serious 'brick wall' on our 'path' to understanding but we concluded that we are more limited by our experiences and ability to relate with others. One type of social learning is the use of metaphors because it is so highly socially constructed. Non-human don't use metaphors because they lack the ability to relate and view another thing as similar to themselves.
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