ECAEF

“… if thought corrupts language, language corrupts thought.”  Jonas Trappe Third Prize in Vernon Smith Prize Contest 2022.  Abstract Language is one of the most fundamental achievements in human history. Language in all its manifestations, in the choice of words, the grammar, the style of its speakers, tells the story of a society. Language evolved […]

“… if thought corrupts language, language corrupts thought.”  Krzysztof L. Lesniewski Third Prize in Vernon Smith Prize Contest 2022.  Abstract The aim of the essay is to illustrate how impactful the language is especially in political context with the focus on the impact of the corruption of language. The essay elaborates on this in preliminary […]

The Living Tree and the Erosion of the Rule of Law Johann-Jakob Chervet Second Prize in Vernon Smith Prize Contest 2022.  Abstract This essay explores the danger of the corruption of language to the Rule of Law. As Justice Gorsuch wrote “words are how the law constrains power”. Therefore, the corruption of our language inevitably […]

When the “social” becomes an end in itself… individual agency and freedom will disappear: How are intellectuals shaping this ideal? Lisa Helga Kinspergher First Prize in Vernon Smith Prize Contest 2022. Abstract Language manipulation is a practice aimed at distorting the actual meaning of words and providing them hidden and subtle connotations. Today this strategy […]

Taking Money out of Politics: A case for Private Money? Globally, governments have maintained the sole right of money creation and issuance of tender. Over time, to further their own self-interests, central banks and the ruling elites in governments have developed creative methods to slash their citizens’ wealth by inflating and devaluing these currencies. The […]