A MODEL OF REFLEXIVITY

“If we reflect upon our languages, we find that at best they must be considered only as maps. A word is not the object it represents; and languages exhibit also this peculiar self- reflexiveness, that we can analyze languages by linguistic means. This self-reflexiveness of languages introduces serious complexities, which can only be solved by the theory of multi-ordinality... The disregard of these complexities is tragically disastrous in daily life and science.” (Korzybski, Science and Sanity, p. 58).

We are map-makers! We are map makers to such an extent, we cannot but make mental maps of the world. We do that because “a word is not the object it represents.” This gives us the division between what’s external (outside) and what’s internal (inside). It gives us the distinction between the inner game and the outer game. And with that we have the operational understanding that if we win the inner game, the outer game is easy-peasy. Start on the inside, get that well-structured and you will be able to be effective and productive on the outside.