George Lakoff: Moral Politics

I highly recommend the Moral Politics talk by Linguistics professor George Lakoff: [VIDEO] In short, the two sides of the debate speak different language representing different world views rooted in upbringing and triggered / exploited by metaphors. This talk changed my view on political speech and narrative dramatically.

I think you'll enjoy this lecture by linguistics professor George Lakoff: [VIDEO] Among other things he speaks of the think-tank-driven concerted effort to influence political support by using language invoking specific metaphors to frame important issues. Like "Tax Relief" for dramatically reducing taxes for the rich etc. Changed how I process political speech and pretty much any media-supported narrative.

George Lakoff did an excellent linguistic analysis of conservative vs. liberal political speech, metaphors and framing in his lecture Moral Politics. I found it extremely valuable in understanding the driving and defining forces behind the two movements. [VIDEO]

His framelab podcasts are informal and easily digestable. [LINK] I highly recommend * truth sandwich time (if you only listen to one make it this one) * how republicans really think (if you only listen to one make it this one, too) * how trump uses twitter to control the media (very eye opening) * guns over people (on how to frame the gun debate) Also, this lecture on political language exposes the leverage hooks politicians and propagandists use to hook and manipulate us. You will never listen/read political speech the same. [VIDEO]

May I recommend this talk on the neuroscience of language and thought by George Lakoff? [LINK] And also this one on political language, morals and metaphors? It will change how you listen to political speech, and especially political speech targeting people with different political orientation -- which can often sound nonsensical, but is actually carefully constructed to activate their metaphors. [VIDEO] Basically, the ideas of enlightenment (we are rational beings) are not true. A couple of slides from the first lecture: Myth: Reason is conscious, you know what you think. Science: Reason is mostly unconscious, estimates are about 98% unconscious. Conscious thinking is linear. Brain circuitry is massively parallel. Myth: Ideas are made meaningful via their direct connections to the external world. Meaning is a matter of truth conditions. Science: Ideas are made meaningful via the brain's connections to the body and our embodied experience. Myth: Emotion gets in the way of rationality. Science: Emotion is necessary for rationality.

I highly recommend Lakoff’s lecture on framing and metaphors in political speech and discourse. Changed how I listen - to anyone - forever. [VIDEO] His framelab podcast is also excellent.

In this lecture on Moral Politics, George Lakoff addresses the “nonsensical” speech, metaphors, framing and more. Changed how I listen to mass media and political speech. [VIDEO] Also highly recommend his Truth Samndwich methodology to defanging propaganda messages in the media. [LINK]

Russ Olsen, author of Getting Closure, Eloquent Ruby and Design Patterns with Ruby, telling the story of the moon landing as a conference talk. Inspired me beyond measure and brought tears to my eyes. [LINK] —- George Lakoff’s lecture on Moral Politics. Instantaneous understanding of political language and identity politics. Incredibly important, especially today in time of extreme polarization. [VIDEO] —- Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity [LINK]