The thoughts that shape my writing

Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.

Strongmen and Soft Words
John Rees John Rees

Strongmen and Soft Words

From euphemisms and slogans to sentimental appeals, modern authoritarianism often arrives in language that sounds soothing — even noble. But beneath the softness lies something more sinister.

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Why Words Have Lost Their Meaning
John Rees John Rees

Why Words Have Lost Their Meaning

I’m a bit of a philosophy nerd but I’ve struggled to really get to grips with the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was an enigmatic philosopher who made major contributions to our understanding of language, especially in how words gain meaning and how language shapes our view of the worl

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