Human life is driven forward by its dim apprehension of notions too general for its existing language

Human life is driven forward by its dim apprehension of notions too general for its existing language

Alfred North Whitehead, a prominent philosopher and mathematician, believed that human life is propelled forward by our limited understanding of abstract concepts that transcend our current language capabilities. In his philosophical works, Whitehead delved into the complexities of human thought and language, exploring how our cognitive limitations shape our perception of the world around us.

Whitehead argued that human beings are constantly striving to grasp concepts that are beyond the scope of our existing language. We are limited by the words and symbols we use to communicate, which often fail to capture the full depth and complexity of our thoughts and experiences. As a result, we are left with a "dim apprehension" of these abstract notions, struggling to articulate them in a way that others can understand.

This gap between our thoughts and our ability to express them is what drives human life forward, according to Whitehead. It is this tension between the known and the unknown, the concrete and the abstract, that pushes us to seek out new ways of understanding and communicating our experiences. In striving to articulate these elusive concepts, we are constantly expanding our knowledge and pushing the boundaries of our language.

Whitehead's ideas have profound implications for how we understand the nature of human existence. By recognizing the limitations of our language and our understanding, we can begin to appreciate the vast complexity of the world around us. We are constantly grappling with ideas that are too general for our existing language, pushing ourselves to think beyond the confines of our current knowledge.