Скачать или смотреть The Power of Language: Does It Describe Reality or Create It? | Philosophical Inquiry

In this episode of The Human Condition, we explore one of philosophy’s most fundamental questions: does language simply describe the world as it is, or does it actively create our reality? From abstract concepts like justice to everyday labels for objects and emotions, our words may be far more powerful than we realize.

We dive into different perspectives on this topic. We'll explore the descriptive view, as seen in Aristotle's philosophy, which holds that words are labels for pre-existing things. We then contrast this with the generative view, famously championed by Ludwig Wittgenstein, who argued that "the limits of my language mean the limits of my world." We'll also examine the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which suggests that language structures our thought and perception.

This episode will also explore the practical implications of language's power. We discuss how words are tied to power (as seen in George Orwell's 1984), how they shape identity, how they reflect culture, and how they are changing in the digital age. By the end, you will be challenged to re-examine your own vocabulary and consider the profound impact your words have on your perception and on the world around you.

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Resources for Further Exploration

Books

Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein

Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech by Edward Sapir

Language, Thought, and Reality by Benjamin Lee Whorf

1984 by George Orwell

You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen

The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker

The Power of Babel by John McWhorter

Podcasts

Your Undivided Attention (Center for Humane Technology)

Philosophy Bites

The Daily (NYT)

Websites

Center for Humane Technology

Pew Research: Internet & Tech

Future of Life Institute



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