Walden Pod

04 - Russell Conjugation


Listen Later

In 1948, Bertrand Russell gave a name to something all propagandists are familiar with: different words and phrases can be factual synonyms, but emotional antonyms. Words can be technically synonymous, but have very different emotional connotations. This can be used to manipulate entirely different responses to the same underlying reality. 
“Firmness” is behaviorally identical to “stubbornness,” yet they evoke different emotional connotations. “Death tax” and “estate tax” are two descriptions of the same policy, but support for one is greater than the other. “Socialized medicine” and “Medicare for all” are the same thing, but one polls nearly 25% higher than the other. 
This is most consequential in the realm of media, public relations, journalism, politics, and so on, but Russell Conjugations are at work in all of language. Their use isn’t limited to those with a platform, but extends to all human beings -- how we think of each other and ourselves, how we communicate with others, and how we navigate the social landscape. 
Russell Conjugation [Edge] 
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Walden PodBy Emerson Green

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

34 ratings


More shows like Walden Pod

View all
Philosophize This! by Stephen West

Philosophize This!

15,238 Listeners

Unbelievable? by Premier Unbelievable?

Unbelievable?

2,030 Listeners

Very Bad Wizards by Tamler Sommers & David Pizarro

Very Bad Wizards

2,682 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,392 Listeners

TheThinkingAtheist by The Thinking Atheist

TheThinkingAtheist

2,859 Listeners

The Glenn Show by Glenn Loury

The Glenn Show

2,271 Listeners

Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

Philosophy Bites

1,534 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

937 Listeners

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas by Sean Carroll

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

4,168 Listeners

Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor

Within Reason

1,663 Listeners

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss by Lawrence M. Krauss

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

504 Listeners

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal by Theories of Everything

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

17 Listeners

Decoding the Gurus by Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne

Decoding the Gurus

954 Listeners

Conversations with Peter Boghossian by Peter Boghossian

Conversations with Peter Boghossian

246 Listeners

The Know Rogan Experience by Cross Pond Productions

The Know Rogan Experience

788 Listeners