Description

  The fundamental problem of symbolism is that of selection. When there is more than one thing under view, symbols may solve the problem of selection by use of a symbol or set of symbols, in addition to a selection method which combined with the associated symbols, producing the selection.

 The number 1, is used instead of "number" because there are more than one of "number" to select from. Like wise, "number" is used because it is assumed there are other selections possible besides "number". While the symbols are not enough, as they are selections of their own, the brain appears capable of providing many selection methods, which may use symbols completely differently. This sheds light on the possibility that language is not a single entity in the brain - processing symbols, but rather a source of decision using symbols as a basis for selection or decision.

 The advantages of symbolic thought, provided by our language capacity, goes beyond what the eyes can do, or the ears, perhaps because these inputs from the outside world, are in a sense the source of selections but do not provide the extensive selection methods which are necessary for decisions.

 Born without the ability to understand symbols, one still has selection methods, which may use the selections and selection spaces, from all input pathways as a basis for decision, however one can appreciate at some point, the growth that symbolic selection methods have - in both internal and external ways of expanding the process of decision in the mind - or brain. Symbolic thought is not just a way of helping other human beings understand how to make decisions - but serves as a useful capacity for the individual alone. In other words, people outside of the mind, (other minds) would benefit from the help from the way symbolism can solve problems of decision. One of the reasons the benefit is both for the mind and outside minds, is that the possible decisions are so large that symbolism is a method by which we may organize and manage the world from its parts.

 The uniqueness of objects in the world, as determined by the input pathways of vision, sound, touch, smell and any other internal sense, can limit the need for symbolism. If there were only one object in view of all these inputs, there would be a default selection, that has no competition for selectors in the mind. But often the case is not the limit of input pathways, because normally the input pathways have already turned the world of possibility into many selections, selection spaces and ultimately providing a need for symbolism. One can argue that to the degree our input pathways can extract things to select from our environment, the need for symbolism would grow.