Answer to Question #170860 in English for Davante

Question

To appreciate the importance of hypothetical thought enabled by symbols, try to imagine living only in the present with no memory of the past and no anticipation of the future, having no goals for yourself and knowing only the concrete, immediate reality. How would not having hypothetical thought affect your life? 

Answer 1

Lacking hypothetical thought would greatly affect ones ability to make effective decisions when faced with situations in life. This is because hypothetical thought allows one to imagine possible occurrences and the exporation of their possible outcomes through mental simulation that in turn greatly influences ones decisions.

This in turn affects ones ability to plan both against events that have occurred in the past as well as events that might happen in the future.