Idea Framing, Metaphors, and Your Brain - George Lakoff

Complete video at: fora.tv/2008/06/20/George_Lako...
UC-Berkeley Linguistics Professor George Lakoff discusses how idea framing and metaphors contribute to shaping the way we think.
-----
UC Berkeley Professor George Lakoff discusses concepts from his new book, The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st-Century American Politics with an 18th-Century Brain.
George P. Lakoff is a professor of linguistics (in particular, cognitive linguistics) at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1972.
Although some of his research involves questions traditionally pursued by linguists, such as the conditions under which a certain linguistic construction is grammatically viable, he is most famous for his ideas about the centrality of metaphor to human thinking, political behavior and society.
He is particularly famous for his concept of the "embodied mind" which he has written about in relation to mathematics. In recent years he has applied his work to the realm of politics, and founded a progressive think tank, the Rockridge Institute.
Joe Epstein is the former President of The Commonwealth Club's Board of Governors.

[@thinkandycohen]

George is a great teacher. Makes the complex simple but understandable.

[@mrigmaiden1]

Preach yes! Truth knows no boundaries and is accessible to us all if only we recognize it and acknowledge it!

[@TheMarried123]

Prof Lakoff has a free book in pdf form for those who want to counter false political ideas. Facts do not work on deeply framed ideas. Google: thinkingpoints/georgelakoff.pdf/download

[@brycenew]

Also go check georgelakoff.com/writings/ plus georgelakoff.com/videos/ and georgelakoff.com/

[@pirbird14]

The Hitler quotes are from Rauschnings's 2 books on Hitler's "table talk". They are recollected quotes and not verbatim. Hitler did say many similar things in recorded speaches. For instance, he told a court at Leipzig, in 1928 "Our movement is a spiritual revolution of the masses." Goebbles, in his diary, records his belief that the Party is his new Church. Fascism is all about an idealized "spirit of the community", which is adamantly opposed to reasoned analysis.

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow -The idea of verticalization is reflected in the Christian [as well as Aristotelian] concept of a strict hierarchical "scala naturae", a Latin term for the "Great Chain of Being" [aka the "Ladder of Life"]. [ I will offer more on verticalization in a future comment...] For the purpose of discussing "framing", Lakoff would say that when neural pathways are continually reinforced, a "circuit" is created, so [as Lakoff says] the "circuit is the metaphor 'more is up' "...[continued]...

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - I would call that process 'verticalization'... Thanks for your insightful comment!

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - "verticalization" is a thought process in which forms of life, ideas, etc. are placed on vertical levels...I used the term "verticalization" to highlight and reflect your reference to "topic-dominance or superiority complex". Lakoff would use language like 'vertical orientation' to describe the concept of 'up and down'... While I have not [yet] heard Lakoff specifically reference the idea of verticalization, it is very much related to the idea of 'up and down'...[to be continued]...

[@djfonso]

Our brain is far from perfect. I watch this and wonder how many primary metaphors I've have managed to create.

[@csilva85]

@DefiningConcepts - I admire your effort to explore the 'triune brain lens' neurophysiology... Please allow me to make a suggestion here: what Lakoff would probably say is that 'repetitive experiences' cause the brain to make STRONGER synaptic connections along its neural pathways... The stronger those connections are, the more effective [or "ingrained" - to use more common language] the framing is...

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - [continued]...honestly assessing and educating yourself about power distortions, dependency issues [if any], your own 'coping style', and your own level of participation [if any] in your conflict(s) - this is especially true when the conflict is part of an ongoing process... You will need 'healing', as well as recognition and nurturing of your own inner strengths, and the ability to reach out, network, and intereact for help/support...

[@AgeOfReclamation]

he just blew my mind.

[@doriszka1000]

Does anyone know where the full video is? The link is dead!

[@SeFossePerMe]

Brilliant.

[@mrigmaiden1]

YES a universal truth; this letting go allows us to change for the better in any aspect of our existence. Why can people not see this?

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 can you answer this for me? -is 'verticalization' a way to describe a term like 'superiority complex' that is less personal and emotional, or is it a formality in educational studies? maybe this talking over or last word is a natural behavior that has developed through human evolution due to the human drive to problem solve and the will to survive? where does the idea of dominance fit into it all? it's a really interesting topic. thanks csilva!

[@jasonreynolds3903]

Metaphor @ 2:43

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 hi silva. i never heard of the term 'verticalization'. is it a psychological term? what does it mean?

[@artmaltman]

Wow. Concise, clear, earth-shaking.

[@sk8bow]

@Barbaste i agree. and there is also courtesy and avoidance that i practice, but dominance is automatic when i am not keen to how i'm acting. i don't like being so predictable so i think i'll practice more silence and avoidance.

[@optionsupdate]

@csilva85 thanks buddy for taking the time to explain.

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - So looking at verticalization thru the Lakoff 'lens', having a 'circuit' in place where 'more is up' [an idea inherent to verticalization] describes a process that goes way beyond a "psychological term" or a mere abstract sociological theory. It [the 'framing' of the 'vertical' reference] becomes a physiological function, totally integrated into the biochemical and physical activities of human life...which creates the necessary conditions for social manipulation by others...

[@kja5]

Reason is acquired through decades of education, historic hindsight, and mental discipline.

[@sk8bow]

I find it interesting that most replies on YT seems to correct the prior post. Even my reply to you can be seen as a correction of your post. When you say "You are partially right....." , it makes me think that we tend to compete with one another for a superior post. I think it's an interesting topic-dominance or superiority complex.

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - I would not say that "verticalization" is a "formality in educational..." Yet...references to 'superiority' or 'dominance' would directly follow from any verticalized thought process...If a person has consciously (or unconsciously) internalized a 'circuit' such as verticalization where 'better' or 'correct' ideas are 'superior', when that person encounters any idea that challenges the 'better' idea he/she will FEEL that the challenging idea must either dominate...[continued]

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - That [letting go] can be a challenge... All humans have a need for problem solving, but the trap of dualism [dualistic thinking] makes it appear as if the only choices are (a) persecution/blame, or (b) worship/reward. More positive choices would be to: identify distorted behavior [i.e. abuse, assault, aggression], and seek accountability [rather than blame]. You will have to look inward to let go of any identity distortions you may have, as well as honestly assessing your...[continued

[@LeiFolk]

It is Irving Goffman not Kaufman! So damn many inconsistencies in the subtitles, that is a real shame.

[@csilva85]

@jajafu1977 - actually, your analogy to a dictionary is quite interesting... I have no idea why your comment was "flagged as spam"...

[@optionsupdate]

@csilva85 where is the rest of it, thanks

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - ...that means you're going to have to learn to forgive yourself.... A necessary step in the process of 'letting go'....

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 hey thanks. that gave me a different way at looking at myself.

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 all i want to do is to learn how to let conflict go and not need to confront and compete. it's not necessary at all. this is how i feel about my life, and i speak only for myself.

[@csilva85]

@optionsupdate - perhaps Chomsky has not addressed the issue of "framing" specifically, but I'm sure he understands that in issues where conservatives [like Fox] have established a specific 'narrative' that they easily reference with 'sound bites', it is difficult to effectively challenge their propaganda "in 10 words or less" [i.e. 'sound bites'] when the very language of the rebuttal is alien to the references of the typical Fox viewer. A Chomsky would need @ least...[continued]

[@ProudAnselmo]

It's interesting to me how intelligence seems to always break down the complex into simpler and simpler terms, while ignorance always seems to thrive in the needlessly complicated.

[@csilva85]

@optionsupdate - What you see is all of it...there were only 2 parts to my comment...sorry 4 the confusion...

[@csilva85]

@adelle0001 - why would your comment be "flagged as spam"? It IS an interesting video...

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 what you talk about is very hard for the majority of society to comprehend which is disappointing since a lot of people that influence society understand this. many just can't "see" it.

[@wasbeheer1706]

lit

[@ItHadToBeSaid]

Loved it! I spend a lot of time on my channel explaining propaganda and most people are shocked at how indoctrinated they are.

[@jamesroberts1964]

Do metaphors create schemata in the brain?

[@csilva85]

@CommodoreV - according to you anyway...

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - Good luck, sk8...

[@csilva85]

@csilva85 ...[continued] A Chomsky would need at least 5 [uninterrupted] minutes of time to lay out what Lakoff might call the "framework" for his rebuttal... And that's just NOT going to happen on a network [especially] like Fox...since their real mission is not to "dispassionately" [as Lakoff would say] explore both sides of an issue...their mission [@ least one of them] is to monopolize the definition of what is [and what is not] "Fair and Balanced"...

[@csilva85]

@sk8bow - [continued] the challenging idea must either dominate them, or, he/she must dominate the idea.... I do not believe this is a "natural behavior...developed through...evolution...". It is part of a 'coping mechanism"...the way that human beings react in the face of conflict...It is well established among psychologists that there is more than one way that humans deal with conflict; the urge to 'dominate' is only but one possible coping mechanism... there are others....

[@platoscavealum902]

🧠

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 you know, that makes total sense. i have just been given very good advise from someone i may never meet. i love the internet. who needs a shrink when i have my own personal shrink online! thank you silva. really, thank you!!! :)

[@sk8bow]

@Barbaste hahahahhahahhaha, yeah can you do. i'm hopeless. :D

[@csilva85]

@CommodoreV - Do you believe in God?

[@apekillssnake]

a great little clip for MRA's to begin processing family law and feminism as being misandric!

[@dhieuayuen1467]

George Lakeoff is in a liberal California and why he's not concerned about race, power and entitlement

[@sk8bow]

@csilva85 now i feel like crap. am i that bad???? :P

[@justgivemethetruth]

George Lakoff looks like Ernest Hemmingway

[@johnlopperman2161]

just Yeah, people tend to look like other people !!!

[@justgivemethetruth]

@@johnlopperman2161 I'm so glad you took the time and effort to bring that to my attention.

[@johnlopperman2161]

@@justgivemethetruth Apparently necessary 😜

[@katjatissarj1086]

frei ..liberi..liebe .. tre..train ...of thought (?) in a mind of garden kind left behind... hmm.. reference indicating therefor confirming is a cognitivism or non so if ..that way go... i reccon.. atm... oh.. but that is funny coming from the end n recognize linquostic ..match (?) ... oh, thank u! :');

[@lizhada2011]

Thumbs up if you're here for CSU composition...

[@CatalogOfGreatIdeas]

Why not state the BLEEDINGLY OBVIOUS? = in other words - SO WHAT?

[@nannielane]

the problem of doing academic research in Las Vegas is that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas hahaha

[@Xochiboo]

Sorry, George, but most of my cohort has breast fed their children.