Ben’s Essays

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ETC: A Review of General Semantics

One of my interests is general semantics, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have the journal of the Institute of General Semantics, ETC: A Review of General Semantics, publish a number of my essays over the years.

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Summary

A short essay about the need for general semantics and the obstacles in its way — as well as some recommendations.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 71, No. 2, 2014.

Topics

general semantics, semantics

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Summary

An essay redefining the field of semantics to better understand and define the field of general semantics.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2013.

Topics

general semantics, semantics

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Summary

An essay explaining how to talk probabilistically for improved accuracy and less humiliation.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 66, No. 4, 2009.

Topics

general semantics

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Summary

A true story about the events of the day Michael Jackson died, including stories from my time working on the film The Baster (since retitled The Switch).

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Volume 66, No. 3 (July 2009).

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Delivered September 2009 in New York City at the Across the Generations Conference at Fordham University, co-sponsored by the Institute of General Semantics.

Topics

general semantics, acting

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Project page »

Summary

An essay outlining a simple definition of general semantics, both as a term and as a field.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 65, No. 4, 2008.

Topics

general semantics

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Summary

An essay distinguishing three meanings for the word “mind,” relating one of those meanings to the group improvisation experience of group mind, and offering methods for making the experience of group mind more regularly achievable.

Publication Info

Adapted from a seminar-lecture for the New York Society for General Semantics presented January 2008 at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City. Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 65, No. 3, 2008.

Topics

general semantics, long-form improvisation, game theory, theory of mind

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Note: The published version of this essay contains some unintended formatting problems. I am unclear about the source of the problems, but the new editor ran an errata in the subsequent issue of ETC.

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Summary

An essay making more immediate the experience of time-binding, a concept introduced by Alfred Korzybski in his book Manhood of Humanity. Inspired by writing the report “‘The World in Quandaries’ Symposium” for ETC: A Review of General Semantics.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 64, No. 1, 2007.

Topics

general semantics

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Summary

A report on the events at the World in Quandaries Symposium at Fordham University in September 2006, co-sponsored by the New York Society for General Semantics.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 64, No. 1, 2007.

Topics

general semantics

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General Semantics Bulletin

One of my interests is general semantics, and I was fortunate enough to have the journal of the Institute of General Semantics, General Semantics Bulletin, publish two of my essays before it halted publication in 2010.

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Summary

An essay promoting an identity for general semantics, as well as a simple definition of the term and field.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in the General Semantics Bulletin, Vol. 74-75, 2007-2008.

Topics

general semantics

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Summary

A humorous speech distinguishing between the terms “sense” and “nonsense,” providing insight into my comedic techniques.

Publication Info

Originally published by the Institute of General Semantics, Inc., in the General Semantics Bulletin, No. 73, 2006.

Watch the Presentation

Delivered October 2006 in Ft. Worth, TX, at the Making Sense Conference, co-sponsored by the Institute of General Semantics.

Topics

general semantics, comedy

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See Also

Project page »