ABSTRACT
Symbol forming is a “ratiomorphic” rather than a “rational,” or reasoning, process—with the understanding that these expressions are not antithetical but are end points of a continuum. Consciousness is a late offspring of the general ratiomorphic behavior of animal brains, being connected with the evolution of symbolic processes. Human “togetherness” has limits; bees, ants and termites are much more socialized than man, their elaborate societies being built upon instinctive behavior. The average pre-human was just as unable to invent language as the average human was to invent calculus or relativity theory. Myth, magic, and the beginnings of human language, all closely interconnected, are doubtless near the origin of symbolic activities. Spoken language is unfortunately uninformative with respect to the origins of symbolism. The concepts of empathy, hypostatization, and reification may be used as circumscription for mythical experience, which, because of its non-verbal or pre-verbal nature is at the limit of linguistic expression.
