I think our difference mainly lies in our conceptualizations of “understanding”. I don’t think I’m extending “understanding” when In include emotional assent, instinct, gut feeling, awareness of correctness while being unable to put it into words. I think there are more limits to standard languages than there are in human’s ability to understand. Analogy: Could I explain to you what it is like to be pregnant? If I explained to you what it was like to be pregnant would you understand? If instead a woman who was pregnant explained it to you, would she be able to and would you understand? What if you were a woman who had been pregnant and someone who was pregnant was explaining to you what it was like? What would your level of understanding be then? In each case the same language and words could be used but the ability to explain genuinely may differ, and the ability to understand may differ.

I think our difference mainly lies in our conceptualizations of “understanding”.

I don’t think I’m extending “understanding” when In include emotional assent, instinct, gut feeling, awareness of correctness while being unable to put it into words.

I think there are more limits to standard languages than there are in human’s ability to understand.

Analogy: Could I explain to you what it is like to be pregnant?

If I explained to you what it was like to be pregnant would you understand?

If instead a woman who was pregnant explained it to you, would she be able to and would you understand?

What if you were a woman who had been pregnant and someone who was pregnant was explaining to you what it was like? What would your level of understanding be then?

In each case the same language and words could be used but the ability to explain genuinely may differ, and the ability to understand may differ.

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