All articles tagged with #abstract thought
New research suggests abstract thinking can occur without mental imagery, challenging David Hume’s claim that ideas are based on visual images. The study on aphantasia shows many people can understand abstract concepts despite lacking imagery, prompting philosophers to rethink how higher cognition works.
Analysis of 112 engraved ostrich eggshell fragments from Diepkloof, Klipdrift, Apollo 11 and Namibia shows that over 80% display coherent spatial organization—grids, parallel lines and right angles—indicating intentional, systematic thought and suggesting an embryonic visual grammar marking early geometric and abstract thinking about 60,000 years ago.
A study of fossils found in Spain's Prado Vargas Cave suggests Neanderthals were capable of abstract thought, as they collected marine fossils with no practical use, indicating a behavior developed independently of Homo sapiens. The fossils, dated to 39,800–54,600 years ago, may have served ornamental, cultural, or barter purposes, or even as toys, highlighting Neanderthals' cognitive abilities and challenging previous assumptions about their intellectual capacity.