Susanne Langer
Susanne Langer (1895 - 1986) was an American Philosopher who, after holding various teaching posts,
was a lecturer at Columbia University, later becoming an emeritus Professor at Connecticut College.
was a lecturer at Columbia University, later becoming an emeritus Professor at Connecticut College.
She argued that the need to use visual imagery and symbolism is a basic, primary human function and
that the process by which symbols are visualised is a fundamental process of the mind. She, like Mary
Watkins, believed this is something that goes on all the time but it is only in dreams that we become
aware of it. It may be that the brain is following its own laws by actively translating experiences into
symbols. However, the word translating may be misleading, it may be that humans experience the world
symbolically and it is only the development of language that has made us attempt verbalisation of our
experiences.
that the process by which symbols are visualised is a fundamental process of the mind. She, like Mary
Watkins, believed this is something that goes on all the time but it is only in dreams that we become
aware of it. It may be that the brain is following its own laws by actively translating experiences into
symbols. However, the word translating may be misleading, it may be that humans experience the world
symbolically and it is only the development of language that has made us attempt verbalisation of our
experiences.
