Science and Sanity

Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics is a 1933 philosophy book written by Alfred Korzybski (1879–1950).^[1]^[2]^[3] Published by the Institute of General Semantics,^[4] it remains in print, the sixth edition released in 2023.^[5] It's considered Korzybski's magnum opus.^[6] It was by this book's influence that general semantics became known to the public. In some countries, the book is already in the public domain.

Background

Korzybski presented his most famous epistemological arguments in Science and Sanity:

Humans' knowledge of the world is limited by both the human nervous system and the languages they have developed, and thus no human can have direct access to reality, given that the most they can know is that which is filtered through the brain's responses to reality.^[7]

His best known dictum is "The map is not the territory": He argued that most people confuse reality with its conceptual model.^[8]

Content

The philosophical book covers a wide range of subjects, including neurology and psychology.^[9]

Korzybski argued that common natural languages are of limited value in sciences.^[10] He wanted to help humankind to create better languages to handle reality.^[11] He expressed convictions in his formulation of a thesis where he saw structural similarity between languages and what their words represent, and concluded that mathematics is the only language whose structure is similar to that of the world and of the human nervous system.^[12]

He advocated for the necessity of more rigor in both mathematics and physics.^[13]

In the book, Korzybski makes distinction between the words "insane" and "unsane".^[14]^[15]

The book argues for the use of non-Aristotelian logic in the sciences.^[2] Korzybski was accused of being anti-Aristotle.^[3] In fact, in Science and Sanity, Korzybski calls Aristotle delusional, rejecting his metaphysics entirely.^[16]

Selections

Korzybski intended the book to serve as a training manual.^[17] In 1948, Korzybski authorized publication of Selections from Science and Sanity after educators voiced concerns that at more than 800 pages, the full book was too bulky and expensive.^[18]

Translations

It was translated into French by Patrick Hug, with the title Science et Sanité: Une Introduction Aux Systèmes Non-Aristotéliciens Et À La Sémantique Générale.^[19]

References

^ Korzybski, Alfred (2023) [1933]. Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics (6 ed.). Institute of General Semantics. ISBN 9781970164220.
^ ^a ^b Temple, G. (1935). "Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics. By Alfred Korzybski . Lancaster, Penn., and New York: The International Non-aristotelian Library Publishing Company, 1933. Pp. xx + 798". Philosophy. 10 (38): 245–247. doi:10.1017/S0031819100018635. ISSN 0031-8191.
^ ^a ^b Baker, Joseph E. (1945). "The Science of Man". College English. 6 (7). National Council of Teachers of English: 395–401. doi:10.2307/371069. ISSN 0010-0994. JSTOR 371069. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
^ Review by Bobby Matherne: https://southerncrossreview.org/26/matherne-bookreview.htm
^ Levinson, Martin H. (2024). "BOOK REVIEW". ETC: A Review of General Semantics. 81 (1). Institute of General Semantics: 147–148. ISSN 0014-164X.
^ Reesinck, J. J. M. (1946). "On Korzybski". Synthese. 5 (5/6). Springer: 231–236. doi:10.1007/BF02274385. ISSN 0039-7857. JSTOR 20113869. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
^ Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics (6 ed.). Institute of General Semantics. p. 57.
^ MacIntyre, A. D. (2025). "The map and the territory: Why diversity advances neuroscience". Brain and Neuroscience Advances, 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23982128241309691
^ French, James D. (1998). "Science and Sanity into the nineties and beyond". ETC: A Review of General Semantics. 55 (1). Institute of General Semantics: 11–15. ISSN 0014-164X. JSTOR 42577872. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
^ Haslam, Gerald (1970). "Korzybski's Quest". ETC: A Review of General Semantics. 27 (1). Institute of General Semantics: 67–80. ISSN 0014-164X. JSTOR 42574611. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
^ Lahman, Mary P. (2013). "General Semantics: Understanding Korzybski's Formulations". ETC: A Review of General Semantics. 70 (2). Institute of General Semantics: 111–119. ISSN 0014-164X. JSTOR 42579251. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
^ C. Read: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25776770
^ Korzybski, A. (1933). Science and sanity. An introduction to non-Aristotelian systems and general semantics. International Non-Aristotelian Library.
^ Kenneth G. Johnson - Korzybski on Research: Suggestions from Science and Sanity, available at the book General Semantics in Psychotherapy: Selected Writings on Methods Aiding Therapy pp. 185–201
^ Gajda, Robert S. "A discussion of sanity—unsanity—insanity within a health educations context". ETC: A Review of General Semantics (1974): 289-294.
^ DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14801.51042 , also: Korzybski, A., Science and Sanity p. 87
^ Robertson, Thomas (1949-06-09). "Views and Reviews: SCIENCE AND SANITY". The New English Weekly. XXXV (9): 103–104 – via reproduction in General Semantics Bulletin, Numbers 1&2, Autumn-Winter 1949–1950, Institute of General Semantics, Lakeville, CT, pp. 51–52.
^ Korzybski, Alfred (2010) [1948]. "Author's Note". Selections from Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics (2 ed.). Institute of General Semantics. p. xi. ISBN 9780982755914.
^ ISBN 978-1970164336