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The political mind

why you can't understand 21st-century politics with an 18th-century brain

by George Lakoff · 2008

Cover of The political mind
Popularity 12

This volume attempts to harness cognitive science to rally progressive politicians and voters by contending that conservatives have framed the debate on vital issues more effectively than liberals. According to this book, conservatives comprehend that most brain functioning is grounded not in logical reasoning but in emotionalism, and as a result, huge portions of the citizenry accept the Republican framing of the war in Iraq and supporting the troops rather than liberal appeals and phrasing of the occupation in Iraq and squandering tax money. The author feels that if citizens and policy-makers better understand brain functioning, hope exists to lessen the effects of global warming and other societal disasters in the making.

Political cultureConservatismProgressivism (United States politics)Thought and thinkingLiberalismCommunication in politicsPolitische KommunikationPolitische KulturPolitisches DenkenPolitikLiberalismusKonservativismus