Eksponentimists

Eksponentimists is a term coined by the philosopher and mathematician Alfred Korzybski to describe a particular type of thinking that is prevalent in modern society. The term is derived from the Greek words "ekspon" meaning "outside" and "pon" meaning "to throw," suggesting a tendency to throw concepts outside of their proper context.

Korzybski identified eksponentimists as individuals who tend to use words and concepts in a way that is not strictly accurate or logical. This often leads to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a lack of clarity in thought. Eksponentimists may use metaphors, analogies, or other forms of figurative language in a literal sense, or they may apply concepts from one context to another without proper consideration.

For example, an eksponentimist might say that "time is money" and use this phrase to justify spending time on tasks that do not necessarily yield financial gain. In this case, the eksponentimist is using the concept of time in a way that is not strictly accurate, as time is not a resource that can be traded or spent in the same way that money can.

Korzybski argued that eksponentimists often struggle with abstract thinking and have difficulty understanding complex systems. This is because eksponentimists tend to rely on concrete, tangible examples to understand abstract concepts, which can lead to oversimplification and misinterpretation.

In contrast, Korzybski proposed the concept of "map-territory" relationships, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between a model or representation (the map) and the thing being represented (the territory). By recognizing and addressing eksponentimist tendencies, individuals can improve their ability to think clearly and communicate effectively.