Articulated Level: Human Rationalization and Culture Creation

The unique capacity of the human being to articulate and rationalize.

The articulated level is, as far as we know, a form of communication unique to the human species.

It represents the rationalization of communication: the ability to construct and deconstruct messages consciously and deliberately, rather than responding to simple instinct.

To illustrate this difference, we can compare the bee dance with the human dance.

Bees perform a complex dance, but it is instinctive and finite; they have performed it in the same way for millions of years to communicate a limited number of messages, such as the location of food or the presence of danger.

In contrast, humans dance for a myriad of reasons, constantly reinventing movements to communicate ideas, emotions and complex narratives, demonstrating a capacity for articulation that goes beyond mere survival.

Beyond words: music, design and architecture as articulated languages

It is a common mistake to associate articulate communication only with words, whether spoken or written.

In reality, this level encompasses any conjunction of signs that humans rationally organize to convey meaning.

Languages such as music, fashion, design and architecture are powerful examples of articulated communication.

A symphony can communicate deep melancholy, the design of a building can convey power and modernity, and fashion can express identity and belonging.

All these systems are complex and articulate languages that allow us to communicate abstract ideas and emotions in a sophisticated way, without the need to utter a single word.

Recursive communication: accumulating knowledge from generation to generation

The most powerful feature of articulate human communication is that it is recursive and infinite.

Unlike animal communication, which is finite and condemns species to repeat the same story, humans have the ability to accumulate information from generation to generation.

This means that each new generation does not start from scratch.

Instead, we inherit the vast knowledge of our ancestors and build upon it.

This ability to transmit and expand knowledge over time is the engine of human progress and what fundamentally differentiates us from all other life forms on the planet.

How this level allows us to create science, philosophy, technology and civilization.

The direct consequence of this articulated and recursive communication is the ability to educate ourselves, make culture and create civilization.

By not having to rediscover everything in every generation, we can devote our efforts to developing complex fields such as science, philosophy and technology.

In theory, this accumulation of knowledge frees us from the condemnation of repeating the same mistakes of history, since we have access to the lessons of the past.

In essence, everything we consider a pillar of civilization-from our institutions and laws to our artistic creations and scientific advances-is a direct product of this unique ability to communicate in a rational, symbolic, and cumulative manner.

Summary

The articulate level is a form of communication unique to the human species, representing the ability to consciously construct and deconstruct messages. It encompasses languages such as music, design or architecture.

The most powerful characteristic of this communication is that it is recursive and infinite. Unlike animal communication, humans can accumulate information from generation to generation, building on the knowledge of our ancestors.

This ability to transmit and expand knowledge over time is the engine of human progress. It allows us to develop science, philosophy and technology, thus creating civilization as we know it and differentiating us from other life forms.