Using Language to Reshape Our Minds and Realities
The relationship between language and thought; the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, Michel Foucault, and more
The intricate relationship between language and thought has captivated philosophers, linguists and theorists for centuries. Language has a powerful influence on our perceptions, beliefs, values, and social structures⏤a phenomenon too often overlooked. This notion, championed by philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and theorists like Michel Foucault, underscores the idea that language is not a passive mirror reflecting reality, but an active shaper and interpreter of reality, guided by its own set of rules and assumptions. We must recognise the implicit biases coded within dominant discourses in order to reclaim agency over our self-perception and participation in shaping society. When we become conscious of the forces secretly woven into everyday language, we gain the power to transform them into forces for human dignity.