George Lakoff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Lakoff
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Lakoff, 2012
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George Philip Lakoff
May 24, 1941 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
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Robin Lakoff
(divorced)
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| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley |
| Doctoral advisor | Fred Householder |
George Philip Lakoff (born May 24, 1941) is an American cognitive linguist and philosopher. He is famous for his idea that people's lives are greatly shaped by the conceptual metaphors they use. These metaphors help us understand tricky ideas.
His main idea, called the conceptual metaphor thesis, was first shared in his 1980 book Metaphors We Live By, which he wrote with Mark Johnson. This idea has been used in many different study areas. Lakoff has applied it to politics, literature, philosophy, and even math. For example, in his 1996 book Moral Politics, he said that conservative voters often think of the government like a "strict father model". Liberal voters, he argued, see the government more like a "nurturant parent model". He believes that how people experience and feel about social issues depends on the "frames" or ways of thinking that language creates. Lakoff taught linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1972 until he retired in 2016.
Contents
Understanding Metaphors in Our Minds
How Metaphors Shape Our Thinking
George Lakoff's work looks at how metaphors are much more than just words. He believes they are a key part of how we think and understand the world. Traditionally, metaphors were seen as just a way of speaking. But Lakoff argues that they are actually a way of thinking. They help us make sense of complex ideas.
He says that our everyday thinking system is full of metaphors. We might not even notice them! This is because some metaphors are so common that we don't realize their original meaning. For example, when we talk about an argument, we often use words that come from the idea of war:
- He won the argument.
- Your ideas are indefensible.
- He shot down all my points.
- His criticisms were right on target.
Lakoff believes that human thought has grown by creating better metaphors. He also points out that using ideas from one area to understand another can give us new insights.
The Embodied Mind: How Our Bodies Think
Lakoff also talks about the "embodied mind." This means that our thinking, even about very complex ideas, is connected to our bodies. It uses our senses, movements, and emotions. So, to understand how we think, we need to look at how our bodies work.
He argues that basic ideas like colors or directions ("red" or "over") are understood by how our senses and movements work. He also says that our reasoning about big topics like war or money is connected to how we reason about simple things like space. Lakoff explains, "We are neural beings. Our brains get information from the rest of our bodies. What our bodies are like and how they work in the world shapes the very ideas we can use to think."
Mathematics and the Human Mind
Lakoff believes that even math is shaped by humans and our cultures. He argues that we can't really know if math exists "out there" in the universe. This is because our understanding of math comes from the way our brains and bodies are built.
He and Rafael E. Núñez wrote a book called Where Mathematics Comes From: How the Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics into Being. They suggest that math and philosophical ideas are best understood by looking at the "embodied mind." They believe that the study of math should consider how the human body and brain work.
Lakoff's Ideas on Politics
Understanding Political Thinking
George Lakoff has shared his ideas about how people think about politics. He often explains political views by looking at the "conceptual metaphors" that people use. In his book Moral Politics, he explores the metaphors that American liberals and conservatives use.
Lakoff says that differences in political opinions come from two main ways of thinking about the government and its citizens. He believes both groups see government through the idea of a family.
The Strict Father and Nurturant Parent Models
Conservatives, Lakoff argues, often use a "strict father model". In this view, the government is like a strong father who disciplines children (citizens). The goal is to make them responsible adults. Once citizens are responsible, the "father" (government) should not interfere in their lives.
Liberals, on the other hand, often use a "nurturant parent model". This model focuses on caring values. Both "mothers" and "fathers" (government) work to protect good "children" (citizens) from bad influences. These influences can be things like pollution, unfairness, or poverty.
Lakoff believes that most people use a mix of both ideas at different times. He says that political talk often works by using these metaphors. It tries to get people to favor one way of thinking over the other.
Communicating Political Ideas Effectively
Lakoff also points out that liberals have sometimes struggled because they haven't been aware of their own guiding metaphors. They have sometimes used terms that favor the "strict father" idea. For example, the phrase "tax relief" suggests that taxes are a burden. Using such language can accidentally support the other side's way of thinking.
He advises that to be successful, people need to understand and use language that supports their own values. He suggests a way to talk about lies, which he calls a "truth sandwich":
- Start with the truth.
- Point out the lie, but try not to repeat its exact words too much.
- Go back to the truth. Always repeat the truth more than the lie.
This method helps make sure the truth is heard clearly.
Disagreement with Steven Pinker
In 2006, another well-known scientist, Steven Pinker, wrote a review of Lakoff's book Whose Freedom?. Pinker said that Lakoff's ideas were not well supported. He also felt that Lakoff was unfair in how he described other beliefs. Pinker thought Lakoff's ideas made it seem like science and math were just "beauty contests" between different ways of thinking.
Lakoff responded, saying that Pinker misunderstood him. Lakoff stated that he does not believe in "cognitive relativism." He said he is a "realist" about how the mind and world work. He believes that even though our minds use frames and metaphors, we can still use them to understand the world accurately.
Works
Writings
- 2016. Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think, Third Edition.
- 2012 with Elisabeth Wehling. The Little Blue Book: The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic.
- 2008. The Political Mind : Why You Can't Understand 21st-Century American Politics with an 18th-Century Brain.
- 2006. Whose Freedom?: The Battle over America's Most Important Idea.
- 2004. Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate.
- 2003 (1980) with Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By.
- 2000 with Rafael Núñez. Where Mathematics Comes From: How the Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics into Being.
- 1999 with Mark Johnson. Philosophy In The Flesh: the Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought.
- 1996. Moral politics : What Conservatives Know that Liberals Don't.
- 1987. Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal About the Mind.
Images for kids
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Lakoff, 2012
See also
In Spanish: George Lakoff para niños
- Cognitive linguistics
- Conceptual metaphor
- Embodied philosophy
- Framing (social sciences)
- Language and thought
- Metaphor
- Prototype theory
