A philosophy of sound

Humans are not only made of words. From the Big Bang to a heartbeat in utero, sounds are a scaffold for thought when logic and imagery elude us. Christina Rawls, a professor of philosophy, reflects on how she thinks in sound instead of images — a phenomenon called aphantasia. In this personal reflection that reveals how her condition inhibits and enriches her life, she examines how music and sound can be a powerful healing tool for us all.