Final answer:
The language test argument is based on the belief that language usage is an indicator of having a mind and a capacity for reasoning, a view supported by René Descartes but challenged by logical behaviorism which views thought as brain behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The language test argument posits that the ability to use language is a strong indicator of having a mind and the capacity for thought. This argument reflects René Descartes' belief that language is a uniquely human function tied to neurology and self-awareness. He asserted with his famous statement, "Cogito Ergo Sum" (“I think, therefore I am”), that thinking is the core of our existence and the proof of having a mind separate from the body, a view known as dualism.
Additionally, Descartes argued that animals do not possess this ability for language and, by extension, do not have the mental capacity for reasoning or experiencing mental states such as pain. This led to the question of whether humanity's mental superiority grants us the right to utilize animals as we please, an ethical issue that remains contentious.
Opposing views challenge this argument, suggesting that thought and language are simply learned brain behaviors that are not exclusive to humans, reflecting a belief in logical behaviorism. This perspective refutes the need for a non-physical mind, instead asserting that all creatures, including humans, are part of the physical realm and that the brain solely governs thought processes.