The Language of Thought - Fodor

1975

“…one cannot learn a language unless one has

a language. In particular, one cannot learn a first language unless one already has a system capable of representing the predicates in that language and their extensions. And, on pain of circularity, that system cannot be the language that is being learned. But first languages are learned. Hence, at least some cognitive operations are carried out in languages other than natural languages.” (P.64)

“‘If an angel is a device with infinite memory omnipresent attention – a device for which the performance/competence distinction is vacuous – then, on my view, there’s no point in angels learning Latin; the conceptual system available to them by virtue of having done so can be no more powerful than the one they started out with.” (P.86)

Fodor, Jerry A. Page 68, Page 70-72, The Language of Thought. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1975.