Introduction

Abstract

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores a range of questions regarding the nature of amelioration: what are these concepts which can be defective or improved upon? It discusses recent work in feminist philosophy exploring how and to what extent language can serve to create parts of social reality. The book describes with the issue of whether there really is a plausible and non-trivial notion of linguistic prescriptivism that might characterize the attitudes of people commonly associated with the view. It considers whether we can distinguish between ideal and non-ideal philosophy of language in the way that a philosopher like Charles Mills does for political philosophy. The book highlights different forms propaganda might take, from framing devices, to covert messaging, to emotional charged slogans and myths, to seemingly objective bureaucratic reports.