In this article, the author discusses the story of Victor, a feral child discovered in 18th-century France, and its implications for understanding the role of language in human consciousness. Victor, who was unable to speak or comprehend language, raised questions about whether language is necessary for higher cognition and self-awareness. The author explores the debate between philosophers who believe language is a tool that reflects a preexisting capacity of the mind, and those who argue that language is crucial for the development of consciousness. The article also touches on the emergence of large language models (LLMs), AI systems that mimic human language and raise questions about the nature of consciousness.
https://www.noemamag.com/feral-intelligence/