The Importance of Language in Solving Problems

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The actual process of thinking in any discipline is largely an unconscious affair. Language can be used to sum up at some point at which one has arrived in myel post, so as to gain a fresh starting point. But if you believe that you actually use language and the solving of problems, I wish you would write to me and tell me how you go about it. There's this deep respect for the ancient roots of the unconscious, and yeah, less respect for the newcomer.

The Summer of Cormac McCarthy continues – this time we dive into his one piece of non-fiction, the short essay “The Kekulé Problem.” How does our unconscious mind solve problems that conscious deliberation can’t crack? Why does it often work elliptically, in code, rather than giving us the answer directly in language? Is McCarthy right that the unconscious doesn’t trust language because it’s such a newcomer to the human brain?

Plus we select the finalists for our listener selected episode – thanks to our beloved patrons for all their terrific suggestions!

"The Kekulé Problem" by Cormac McCarthy

Pinker & Bloom 1990

Dijksterhuis & Strick 2016