Non-symbolically

Describing actions, representations, or processes that do not rely on the use of symbols to convey meaning or represent information. This involves direct experience, raw sensory input, or immediate, unmediated expressions. It contrasts with symbolic systems like language, mathematics, or coded visual representations, which use arbitrary signs to stand for other things. Non-symbolic understanding is often intuitive, embodied, and arises without conscious, deliberate interpretation of abstract signs or signals. It focuses on immediate perception and physical interaction with the world, offering a form of comprehension that is direct, implicit, and immediate.

Non-symbolically meaning with examples

• A baby's understanding of an object disappearing and reappearing (object permanence) is initially non-symbolic, based on direct sensory input and experience of the physical world, rather than a conscious mental representation. The child's actions show their awareness of the continuous existence of the object despite not 'symbolically' grasping it.
• The act of feeling pain or pleasure is non-symbolic. There is no symbolic mediation; the sensation itself is the direct experience. One doesn't need a symbol to interpret that something hurts or feels good. It's a purely sensory, unmediated response experienced without employing representations.
• Consider the interaction between a dog and its owner; the dog's response to the owner's tone of voice is often non-symbolic. The animal responds to the emotion in the voice - whether it is happy or stern - without needing any symbolic language to comprehend its meaning. The tone is the key direct input.
• When learning to ride a bicycle, the initial balancing is a non-symbolic process. The learner relies on sensory feedback from their body and the environment for continuous, real-time adjustments. The actions rely on direct experience rather than needing symbolic instruction or representation to be effectively executed.
• A musician performing a piece of music might experience a connection that is non-symbolic. It might stem from a deep physical and emotional engagement with the music, beyond the simple understanding of the symbolic notation. The immediate experience has an expressive effect that is direct and non-symbolic.