tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post116138929427601682..comments2024-03-27T02:13:58.088-07:00Comments on Integral Options Cafe: Two Heavyweights Go Toe-to-Toe on Linguistics, Metaphorical Thought, and Politicswilliam harrymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-1161462940680333302006-10-21T13:35:00.000-07:002006-10-21T13:35:00.000-07:00Tom,I think Lakoff is more concerned -- really -- ...Tom,<BR/><BR/>I think Lakoff is more concerned -- really -- about identifiying and understanding the mechanisms at work. At heart, he is a linguist. But the Dems need to find a way to rebutt the talking heads on the right, so they're reaching out to pomo linguistic theory -- makes sense. But when it gets stupid, as Pinker seems to think it does, it's always fun to watch him slap it down. I'd never want Pinker to dislike me or my work.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>Billwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-1161404208809033782006-10-20T21:16:00.000-07:002006-10-20T21:16:00.000-07:00I would prefer that politicians continue to speak ...I would prefer that politicians continue to speak in 17th Century terms, appealing to "univeral disembodied reason." That won't happen, though, because Pandora's Box has been openned.<BR/><BR/>So, what do we get instead? Political tribalism where people have a fixed allegiance to the flavor of politics they've been indoctrinated in. I can't see that this is healthy. Why, it sounds a lot like what we have right now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-1161400195813895712006-10-20T20:09:00.000-07:002006-10-20T20:09:00.000-07:00Oh, forgot to mention that I enjoyed Words and Rul...Oh, forgot to mention that I enjoyed <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words_and_Rules" REL="nofollow">Words and Rules</A>, a more mainstream, popular book on language and linguistics by Pinker.<BR/><BR/>WHwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-1161400005471142292006-10-20T20:06:00.000-07:002006-10-20T20:06:00.000-07:00Hey MD,I'm not familiar with the Lakoff book, nor ...Hey MD,<BR/><BR/>I'm not familiar with the Lakoff book, nor any of his others, but I want to read some of the more purely linguistic stuff. I've been reading Pinker for years, but I had never even heard of Lakoff until stumbling upon the Pinker review.<BR/><BR/>I too am sympathetic to the idea of connecting metaphoric thinking with somatic experience -- in fact, many years ago, I read a book that made that same connection with myth.<BR/><BR/>Pinker is firmly in the Chomsky tradition as far as his linguistic work, although I think he has expanded on Chomsky in many ways. The two best books -- to me -- are <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Language_Instinct" REL="nofollow">The Language Instinct</A> and <A HREF="http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/books/htmw/index.html" REL="nofollow">How the Mind Works</A>. I don't always agree with Pinker (especially in <I>How the Mind Works</I>), but I enjoy reading him.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>Billwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-1161398602994599952006-10-20T19:43:00.000-07:002006-10-20T19:43:00.000-07:00I know nothing about Pinker, and the only thing I ...I know nothing about Pinker, and the only thing I know about Lakoff is that my composition teacher, W.A. Mathieu recommended his book, <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Mathematics-Comes-Embodied-Brings/dp/0465037712/sr=1-8/qid=1161397922/ref=sr_1_8/002-3294830-5619215?ie=UTF8&s=books" REL="nofollow">Where Mathematics Comes From: How the Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics into Being</A>. My teacher's own treatise seems sympathetic in general terms with Lakoff's mission to connect so-called abstract principles to the body. Mathieu certainly does that sort of thing to connect abstract musical principles to the body, masterfully so. <BR/><BR/>Happen to be familiar with this Lakoff book? Just curious.<BR/><BR/>mdMDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14406714360307184822noreply@blogger.com