click to go to framelab.org

George Lakoff is an American cognitive linguist and philosopher, best known for his thesis that people’s lives are significantly influenced by the conceptual metaphors they use to explain complex phenomena. The conservative moral hierarchy described below explains everything you need to know about Republicans. It is basically a “who is better than who” checklist.

Check out this podcast where Lakoff describes the process he went through to discover  How Republicans Really Think

But he doesn’t stop there. Lakoff instructs Democrats on how to better frame issues for maximum effect to fight the self-serving conservative ideology.

Follow George Lakoff on Twitter  or  here at @FramelabNews   or at  Framelab.org

The Conservative Moral Hierarchy:

God above Man

Man above Nature

The Disciplined (Strong) above the Undisciplined (Weak)

The Rich above the Poor

Employers above Employees

Adults above Children

Western culture above other cultures

America above other countries

Men above Women

Whites above Nonwhites

Christians above non-Christians

Straights above Gays

Lakoff also talks about the lying and how we inadvertently help the spread of lies in our attempts to refute them.  I feel it is an important concept but extremely difficult for users of social media to work with.

Here it is:

When you repeat a lie, you spread it.
When you spread a lie, you strengthen it.
When you strengthen a lie, you become an accomplice to it.
In this disinformation age, we must do better.
Avoid falling into simple propaganda traps.
https://twitter.com/GeorgeLakoff/status/1760417496518291756

How does one refute a lie without spreading and strengthening it?

I hope the news media figures it out. They don’t seem to be listening to Lakoff.