What is my cat thinking? …
Yes, what is she thinking? Does she think at all? Does she have emotions? Does she daydream from time to time? Does she like me or does she only see me as an automaton that feeds her? (It makes no difference whether you prefer to think about your dog, your guinea pig, or some other kind of animal – the important thing is to think!)
Does a bird plan the construction of its nest? Or does it merely obey “blind instincts”? (Whatever that may be?) Does my cat think about what she might do next? Can she choose “freely” whether to visit the tomcat next door or whether to go hunting for mice?
Why don't we know these things? Why are “scientists” unable to provide definite answers to all these questions?
Let’s assume you’re interested in such questions – what could you do to find an “answer”?
Well, you could do precisely what “scientists” do – first, you could make detailed observations. Let’s say you observe your animal during the day and at night, recording each of its movements. You train your microscope and your binoculars on it, and eventually you even put wires into its head to measure “electrical potential” or place it under a CT scanner.
In short, you observe and measure everything and anything that can be observed and measured until, for the sake of argument, you know everything that can be “known” about your cat (or your dog, etc.). Yet –
– you still don't know whether or not your cat “dreams”, what she is “thinking” about or whether she “thinks” at all.
But why not???
Table of Contents
1. Describing the Invisible
2. ...and what are other humans thinking?
3. The meaning of the word
4. I spy with my little eye...
5. Don't think of it that way...
6. Heliocentric, geocentric, egocentric...
7. What, when, where...
8. What is truth ...
9. Walking the walk beats talking the talk...
Objectives & Core Themes
The primary objective of this work is to explore the limitations of empirical research when applied to the "invisible" realm of internal experiences, such as thinking, dreaming, and the assignment of meaning. The author examines whether human mental states—and their subsequent externalization through speech—can truly be observed or measured like physical objects, ultimately questioning the boundaries of objective scientific knowledge.
- The distinction between observable objects and internal "mental images."
- The role of "speech" and "meaning" in scientific research and human communication.
- The inherent subjectivity in "meaning" and the impossibility of empirical proof for mental states.
- The "egocentric" nature of human perception and our reliance on "world views" or representations.
- The relationship between "truth," consistency in our mental world, and the necessity of shared language.
Excerpt from the Book
The meaning of the word
To begin with, I think the assertion that the possession of “speech” does not at all simplify “research” into human beings calls for justification.
Now – what does this strange “ability to speak” consist in “objectively”?
It is undeniably the case that humans can “produce noises” – like steel balls do when they collide! Dogs “bark”, cats “meow”, babies “cry” – but – is this their way of “speaking” to us?
You will admit that the mere production of noises is insufficient – we should also be able to say what the noises “mean”, we should be able to “understand” the noises.
Summary of Chapters
Describing the Invisible: The author introduces the central challenge of empirical research by questioning how one can scientifically determine if non-human creatures (like cats or birds) possess internal thoughts or emotions.
...and what are other humans thinking?: This chapter extends the inquiry to humans, arguing that while they possess speech, this does not make their internal states any more accessible to "scientific" observation than those of animals or stones.
The meaning of the word: The text justifies why the possession of "speech" fails to simplify human research, noting that the production of vocal noises is distinct from the possession of "meaning."
I spy with my little eye...: The author posits that the "meaning" of words is inherently subjective and cannot be empirically determined, as "mental images" remain concealed from external observation.
Don't think of it that way...: The chapter explores the irony of scientific representation, using the example of atomic physics to illustrate how we rely on "thought-constructs" rather than direct observations.
Heliocentric, geocentric, egocentric...: This section analyzes the "egocentric" nature of human experience and the necessity of believing in the world's existence beyond our immediate sensory perception.
What, when, where...: The author discusses how we integrate new information into our "mental world" based on spatial and temporal markers, highlighting the difficulty of resolving subjective contradictions.
What is truth ...: This chapter scrutinizes the concept of "objective truth," concluding that it is ultimately determined by the consistency of our private "mental images" against our perceptions.
Walking the walk beats talking the talk...: The concluding discussion emphasizes that while "thinking" is a consequence-free trial, real learning and understanding require active engagement with the world and its "consequences."
Keywords
Empirical Research, Mental Images, Subjectivity, Perception, Representation, Speech, Meaning, Observation, Egocentrism, Objective Truth, Consistency, Communication, Thought-Constructs, Consciousness, Reality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work examines the epistemological limits of empirical science, specifically regarding whether internal mental states and subjective experiences can be objectively observed or measured.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include the nature of "meaning" in language, the gap between objective "noise" and subjective "mental images," the egocentric nature of human perception, and the necessity of shared representation.
What is the fundamental research question?
The author investigates how we can claim to "know" or "understand" the internal thoughts and meanings of others—and even of natural phenomena—when these things are not directly observable.
Which scientific methodology does the author critique?
The author critiques the traditional empirical approach that attempts to treat humans, animals, and physical phenomena as "observable objects" whose internal properties can be measured and categorized.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body systematically deconstructs the reliance on observation and speech as tools for understanding, moving from the comparison of human/animal minds to the linguistic nature of reality and the consistency of our mental worlds.
Which keywords best characterize the text?
Key terms include Mental Images, Subjectivity, Empirical Research, Perception, Representation, and Objective Truth.
Why does the author argue that "speech" complicates research?
Speech complicates research because it introduces an external layer of "noise" that requires subjective interpretation; the speaker’s vocal cords generate sound, but the "meaning" is added by the listener, making it inaccessible to objective measurement.
What does the author mean by "egocentric view of the world"?
The author suggests that all human beings are physically and logically centered in their own experience; we perceive everything from our own "vantage point," making our "mental world" the primary reference for all reality.
How is "truth" defined in the context of the book?
Truth is presented not as an objective, external fact, but as a condition of "consistency"—where a statement or representation is accepted as true if it does not contradict the observer's own perceptions.
What role does "learning" play according to the author?
Learning is defined as the ability to foresee the consequences of one's actions, which requires moving beyond mere "mental images" and directly experiencing the world's resistance through action.
- Quote paper
- Reinhard Blew (Author), 2013, Describing the invisible. On the limits of empirical research, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/212591
