--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For centuries, we in the West have…" description: "\"For centuries, we in the West have thought of ourselves as rational animals whose mental capacities transcend our bodily nature. In this traditional vi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/george-lakoff-17996_able_for-centuries-we-in-the-west-have-though_1952095.png" --- # For centuries, we in the West have thought of ourselves as… ![“For centuries, we in the West have thought of ourselves as rational animals whose mental capacities transcend our bodily nature. In this traditional view our minds are abstract, logical, unemotionally rational, consciously accessible, and, above all, able to directly fit and represent the world…” quote by George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/george-lakoff-17996_able_for-centuries-we-in-the-west-have-though_1952095.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/george-lakoff-17996_able_for-centuries-we-in-the-west-have-though_1952095.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/george-lakoff-17996_able_for-centuries-we-in-the-west-have-though_1952095.png) > “For centuries, we in the West have thought of ourselves as rational animals whose mental capacities transcend our bodily nature. In this traditional view our minds are abstract, logical, unemotionally rational, consciously accessible, and, above all, able to directly fit and represent the world. Language has a special place in thie view of what a human is - it is a privileged, logical symbol system internal to our minds that transparently expresses abstract concepts that are defined in terms of the external world itself.” [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the Western notion that minds are purely rational, abstract, and detached from the body, emphasizing that language and cognition are embodied and shaped by experience. **In simple terms:** Western view sees mind as purely rational and separate from body. Key Takeaway Recognize cognition is embodied and language is grounded. Themes cognition embodiment language philosophy mind-body Mood reflective critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical theoretical When to use this quote - psychology research - education design - AI language modeling - cross-cultural communication Key Concepts Embodied cognition conceptual metaphor semantic grounding Questions to Reflect On - How does embodied experience shape our reasoning? - Can language ever be truly neutral? A Different Perspective Embodied cognition challenges the idea of a purely abstract, logical mind. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Annoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Internal Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internal-minds-3174078/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Logical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Privileged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privileged/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-animals-3174079/) [Rational Consciously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-consciously-3174077/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-place/) [Special places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-places/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thought Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-rational-479475/) [Traditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Human beings aren't rational animals; we're rationalizing animals who want to appear reasonable to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-aronson/human-beings-aren-t-rational-animals-we-re-rationalizing-animals-who/) [Elliot Aronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-aronson/) > [“My instincts told me that death would somehow be…different. But my rational mind reminded me that I had probably tempted fate one too many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/my-instincts-told-me-that-death-would-somehow-be-different-but-my/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [I have often thought that if a rational Fascist dictatorship were to exist, then it would choose the American system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-have-often-thought-that-if-a-rational-fascist-dictatorship-were-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Violence is essentially wordless. and it can begin only where thought and rational communication have broken down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/violence-is-essentially-wordless-and-it-can-begin-only-where-thought/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Zen is based on the recognition of two incompatible types of thought: rational and intuitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hoover/zen-is-based-on-the-recognition-of-two-incompatible-types-of-thought/) [Tom Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hoover/) > [Politicians such as Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich along with talking heads such as Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Anne Coulter are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/politicians-such-as-michelle-bachmann-rick-santorum-and-newt-gingrich/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [I think a handwritten letter - a lot of guys don't realize what that means. It's those little romantic touches that tell a lady,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-a-handwritten-letter-a-lot-of-guys-don-t-realize-what-that/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I love all history because it’s storytelling. But, I will always have a special place in my heart for the Tudor dynasty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/i-love-all-history-because-it-s-storytelling-but-i-will-always-have-a/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [There'll be a special place in hell for the tape back-up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/there-ll-be-a-special-place-in-hell-for-the-tape-back-up-people/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [Baseball has a special place in our hearts. 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It's looking out of the windows at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-the-best-thing-about-aeroplanes-apart-from-the-peanuts-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Remember that no matter where I am or what I'm doing I've got a special place inside me that's all for you. It's been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/remember-that-no-matter-where-i-am-or-what-i-m-doing-i-ve-got-a/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [I do like sci-fi. When I was a kid, I was always sort of locked into sci-fi stories. So, sci-fi has always had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-do-like-sci-fi-when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-always-sort-of-locked-into/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) ## More by George Lakoff > [Our concepts structure what we perceive, how we get around in the world and how we relate to other people. Our conceptual system thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/our-concepts-structure-what-we-perceive-how-we-get-around-in-the/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [Unless you frame yourself, others will frame you — the media, your enemies, your competitors, your well-meaning friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/unless-you-frame-yourself-others-will-frame-you-the-media-your/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“This is how reason really works: through framing, metaphors, emotion, narratives, and imagery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/this-is-how-reason-really-works-through-framing-metaphors-emotion/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [If you're a progressive, you can find lots of people who call themselves conservatives, but who agree with you on lots of things. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/if-you-re-a-progressive-you-can-find-lots-of-people-who-call/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [The Public provides freedom...Individualism begins after the roads are built, after individualists have had an education, after medical research has cured their diseases...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/the-public-provides-freedom-individualism-begins-after-the-roads-are/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/the-essence-of-metaphor-is-understanding-and-experiencing-one-kind-of/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [We categorize as we do because we have the brains and bodies we have and because we interact in the world as we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/we-categorize-as-we-do-because-we-have-the-brains-and-bodies-we-have/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“The environment is not an "other" to us. It is not a collection of things that we encounter. Rather, it is part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/the-environment-is-not-an-other-to-us-it-is-not-a-collection-of/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [Barack Obama understands what Ronald Reagan learned, which is that people vote not on the basis of issues and policy details, but on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/barack-obama-understands-what-ronald-reagan-learned-which-is-that/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“Our ordinary conceptual system, in terms of which we both think and act, is fundamentally metaphorical in nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/our-ordinary-conceptual-system-in-terms-of-which-we-both-think-and/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [Most conservatives are conservatives because they think they are morally correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/most-conservatives-are-conservatives-because-they-think-they-are/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [You can't understand Twenty-first-Century Politics with an Eighteenth-Century Brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/you-can-t-understand-twenty-first-century-politics-with-an-eighteenth/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“If you believe in the eighteenth century view of the mind, you will look and act wimpy. You will think that all you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/if-you-believe-in-the-eighteenth-century-view-of-the-mind-you-will/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“The biology of empathy allows us to comprehend our connection to each other, to other living things, and to the physical world that supports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/the-biology-of-empathy-allows-us-to-comprehend-our-connection-to-each/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [One of the things cognitive science teaches us is that when people define their very identity by a worldview, or a narrative, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/one-of-the-things-cognitive-science-teaches-us-is-that-when-people/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) [Explore all 36 George Lakoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For centuries, we in the West have thought of ourselves as rational animals whose mental capacities transcend our bodily nature. In this traditional view our minds are abstract, logical, unemotionally rational, consciously accessible, and, above all, able to directly fit and represent the world. 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