Chapter: I

Language
It is very difficult to explain what philosophy is in terms of philosophy. But the answer becomes easy when we are willing to step out of philosophy. Then the answer can be given in just one word: philosophy is a language. But that exposes us to yet another difficult question: what is language? We all know what language is. But it is very difficult to explain what it is actually. It is difficult because we will have to explain language in terms of language only. We have no other option. Now, as we will try to understand language just in terms of language, we will not bother to restrict ourselves within conventional domains of any particular discipline such as philosophy or science. Firstly; we must not forget that philosophy is a language, but language is not just limited to philosophy. Neither is language limited to science, art or religion. Hence we will float freely among these disciplines and touch upon concepts which will help us to understand language. Secondly; I consider myself primarily to be an artist. In that sense art is my first discipline. As an artist I realize that since art is a language, I first need to understand what language is. And this I believe is equally true for science, philosophy and religion. It is this conviction that I want to share with my fellow artists and with the general readership. Until we understand language, we just cant understand life, mind, matter, being, knowledge, evolution, consciousness, god, or the cosmos. Just as we cant understand society, state, economy, polity, law, culture, value, or ethics. So we cant understand physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, logic, grammar, literature, music, painting, dance, or drama. Each one of them is ultimately a word (just as each of science, art, philosophy and religion is ultimately a language). And since they are words, they are integral parts of language. Now, the problem is that the general readership is not well conversant with the technical vocabularies of science, philosophy, or linguistics. So in order to overcome this difficulty I will largely restrict myself from using technical jargons. Furthermore, such technical languages are mostly very rigid. Their

terminologies tend to be well defined. Most of such terms have a long history, and hence are not much open to reinterpretations and improvisations. I believe that the fluidity of natural language is ideally suited for my purpose and I will largely restrict myself to its spirit. Now, we intend to understand language. For that we will have to start from somewhere. Let us begin with an arbitrary example. Two individuals A1 and A2 are talking with one another: they are engaged in a discussion. In other words A1 and A2 are linguistically interacting with one another. Such interactions may take innumerable shape and forms. But the thing that becomes very clear is that there is some sort of relationship between A1 and A2. The nature of their relationship invariably influences the nature of their linguistic interactions. And at the same time, the nature of their linguistic interactions influences the nature of their relationship. Now, the nature of their relationship depends upon innumerable factors. And at the same time, the nature of their linguistic interactions also depends upon innumerable factors. These innumerable factors determine the dynamics of their relationship. This is so because the relationship between A1 and A2 is an integral part of a very large network of relationships that include the whole of our human society, ecology and the cosmos. Let us elaborate. We see the world around us, and we see people talking with one another. All sort of people involved with all sort of things. In the United Nations we see the head of states involved in very serious discussions. In the parliaments we see the parliamentarians involved in very serious debates. The ministers discuss important policies in the cabinet meetings. The directors decide important strategies in the board meetings. And similarly, we see the lawyers pleading in the courts; the priests chanting in the temples; the clergies preaching in the churches; professors teaching in the universities; the leaders addressing the rallies; the sellers negotiating with the buyers; the men flirting with women; and the beggars begging in the streets. Everywhere we see seminars, meetings, symposiums, debates and talk shows. Along with them we see the actors acting; the singers

singing; the musicians playing music; the dancers dancing; the writers writing; the painters painting; the sculptors sculpting; the film makers making cinema; the journalists reporting news; and the players playing their games. We are surrounded by books, CDs, DVDs, chips, pen drives, exhibitions, advertisements, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, internet, telephones, mobiles, billboards, and various other public address systems. Apart from them we see the friends, the lovers, the family members the relatives, the neighbors, the colleagues, the business partners, all talking with one another. We see people in groups, big and small, praying, cheering their favorite teams and favorite stars, attending parties, chatting, gossiping, going for picnic, celebrating, drinking, laughing, crying, fighting, protesting, agitating, conspiring and even rioting. And in terms of these myriad, multileveled, multilayered, multidimensional interactions they become related with one another. The relationship between A1 and A2 is an integral part of this network of relationships. Now, this network of relationships which we are talking about is an integral part of a is an ever evolving phenomenon. It came into existence with the emergence of human language. Now, the idea of the fabric that we have just engendered I hope will enable us to visualize Our arbitrary example can engender innumerable stories. The two individuals A1 and A2 are talking with one another It is this fabric that determines the nature their relationship. In other words it implies that the nature of their relationship that influences the nature of their linguistic interactions is determined by this fabric. And this fabric which is woven in terms of human language is ultimately determined by the nature human interactions. It includes the interactions between A1 and A2. it implies that this fabric influences the nature of their linguistic interactions.

the whole fabric The nature of their relationship invariably influences the nature of their linguistic interactions. And at the same time, the nature of their linguistic interactions influences the nature of their relationship We are uninterruptedly weaving this fabric since we learned to talk in terms of language. Now, this fabric that we are uninterruptedly weaving is an integral part of a much larger fabric.

And this relationship is definitely not a static relationship. In terms of such linguistic interactions Mr. A1 is coordinating with Mr. A2 So be it but an ever changing one