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We can assume (but not prove) that people back then were deeply animistic. You could talk to them about the soul of stones and they wouldn't flinch.



It's an interesting, even if highly speculative thought experiment: would there be much animism before storytelling? I don't think that the answer is clear.

(now I'm off on a tangent reading https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception_in_animals )


I would assume that our drive to see intent even in happenstance is older than language. But yeah, highly speculative. Sapir & Whorf would disagree :-)


well ok people vary - there are people today who see spirits within everything and others who take everything literally & don't get jokes or metaphors




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