This rich man had eyes to see with. In whatever condition his body was, after death we ll have some kind of visual ability. In verse 24 this rich man speaks. He uses linguistic form and speaks in intelligible sentences. He makes a definite request.
Language seems to be used in the after life.
In verse 24, he recognized Lazarus. This is not soul sleep or annihilation. At death the soul is not extinguished or anesthetized. It continues in another form. After physical death, though, there is still mental cognition or consciousness.