DOUBLETHINK Meaning and
Definition
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Doublethink is a concept that originated from George Orwell's dystopian novel, "1984," and refers to the act of simultaneously holding contradictory beliefs or opinions and accepting both as true. It is a psychological phenomenon where an individual willingly accepts and maintains two or more conflicting ideas, ideologies, or realities, without perceiving any incongruity or conflict between them.
These contradictory beliefs are often imposed by an authoritative or totalitarian regime as a means of controlling its subjects. In such societies, the citizens are manipulated and indoctrinated to believe in whatever the ruling party dictates, even if these beliefs contradict their own personal experiences or common sense. Doublethink involves the suppression of critical thinking and the acceptance of conflicting information, resulting in the distortion and manipulation of reality.
Doublethink requires individuals to unquestioningly adopt contradictory ideas without any logical or moral struggle. It involves the mental ability to hold two mutually exclusive beliefs, convincing oneself that both are correct despite their inherent contradictions. This practice enables the ruling party to control and manipulate public opinion, as citizens are forced to believe whatever the party propagates, irrespective of its truthfulness.
Doublethink exemplifies the power of psychological manipulation and the vulnerability of individuals under totalitarian regimes. It illustrates the suppression of individuality, independent thought, and the malleability of human beliefs. Within the context of "1984," doublethink is a key aspect of the Party's control over its citizens and serves as a chilling warning about the dangers of allowing contradictory ideologies to infiltrate and dominate society.
Common Misspellings for DOUBLETHINK
- soublethink
- xoublethink
- coublethink
- foublethink
- roublethink
- eoublethink
- diublethink
- dkublethink
- dlublethink
- dpublethink
- d0ublethink
- d9ublethink
- doyblethink
- dohblethink
- dojblethink
- doiblethink
- do8blethink
- do7blethink
- douvlethink
- doubltheink
- doublenthink
Etymology of DOUBLETHINK
The word "doublethink" was coined by the British author George Orwell in his dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four", which was published in 1949. Orwell created "doublethink" as a concept to describe the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs or ideas simultaneously and accept both of them.
Although Orwell invented the term, it can be broken down into two parts to analyze its etymology. The first part, "double", comes from the Old English word "dwi-" or "twi-", meaning "two" or "twice". Similarly, "think" comes from the Old English word "thencan", meaning "to conceive in the mind" or "to consider".
Together, "doublethink" represents the idea of simultaneously accepting two conflicting thoughts or beliefs as true.
Similar spelling words for DOUBLETHINK
- Double Dutch,
- double time,
- double-dyed,
- double digit,
- double tongue,
- doubling,
- Doubletree,
- double talk,
- double date,
- double dye,
- double-decker,
- Doubleday,
- double-date,
- doubleton,
- double take.
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