N.J. Enfield, a linguistics professor at the University of Sydney and author of Language vs. Reality, delves into the intriguing relationship between language and thought. He discusses how language, rooted in social practices, can distort scientific communication. Enfield examines the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, revealing how language shapes perception and decision-making. Through examples like Schelling's map, he emphasizes the collaborative nature of communication and the cognitive biases influenced by linguistic choices, highlighting the complexities of expressing reality through words.
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insights INSIGHT
Language's Social Origins
Language helps us communicate and think about the world.
Its structure reflects social purposes, not just descriptive accuracy.
insights INSIGHT
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis posits that language shapes our world perception.
This idea, though not entirely accurate, highlights language's influence on reasoning and behavior.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Whorf's Fire Investigations
Benjamin Lee Whorf worked as an insurance inspector, investigating fires.
He observed how people's descriptions of situations, like "empty" fuel drums, influenced actions and outcomes.
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Written against the backdrop of the nuclear arms race in the late 1950s, this book sets forth Thomas Schelling's vision of game theory as a unifying framework for the social sciences. It explores areas where progress has been least satisfactory, including negotiations, war and threats of war, criminal deterrence, extortion, and tacit bargaining. Schelling's analysis highlights enlightening similarities between various conflict scenarios, such as maneuvering in limited war and in a traffic jam, and deterring adversaries versus one’s own children. His work emphasizes the importance of strategic commitments, the credibility of uncertain retaliation, and the exploitation of potential force rather than its application. The book has significantly influenced conflict resolution and the development of game theory across the social sciences.
In the First Circle
Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
The novel, set during December 1949, takes place in a sharashka near Moscow, a research facility where prisoners, including scientists and engineers, work on secret projects for the Soviet government. The story follows characters like Lev Rubin, Dimitri Sologdin, and Gleb Nerzhin as they navigate the complexities of their privileged yet oppressive environment. The title alludes to Dante's 'Inferno,' where the first circle of Hell is limbo, reflecting the relatively better conditions but moral limbo of the prisoners. The novel delves into themes of conscience, moral imperative, and the struggle to retain human dignity within a totalitarian system. Solzhenitsyn's work is semi-autobiographical, drawing from his own experiences in the gulag system.
Language vs. Reality
Why Language is Good for Lawyers and Bad for Scientists
N.J. Enfield
N. J. Enfield's "Language vs. Reality" explores the complex relationship between language and our perception of reality. The book delves into how language, particularly its metaphorical aspects, can influence our understanding of the world. Enfield examines the ways in which language can be used to shape arguments and perspectives, highlighting the differences between how language functions in legal and scientific contexts. He argues that while language is a powerful tool for communication, it can also be a source of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. The book challenges readers to critically examine the role of language in shaping their own beliefs and understanding of the world. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the power and limitations of language.
We describe the world using language — we can’t help it. And we all know that ordinary language is an imperfect way of communicating rigorous scientific statements, but sometimes it’s the best we can do. Linguist N.J. Enfield argues that the difficulties run more deeply than we might ordinarily suppose. We use language as a descriptive tool, but its origins are found in more social practices — communicating with others to express our feelings and persuade them to agree with us. As such, the very structure of language itself reflects these social purposes, and we have to be careful not to think it provides an unfiltered picture of reality.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 
