Concept in Definition ABC

Etymologically anomie means without laws, since the word is formed by the prefix a, which means negation and the suffix nomia, which is equivalent to law. However, its etymology can also be understood with another meaning (without a name) since the suffix nomia also expresses the action of naming. This distinction with respect to its origin makes the word anomie present two meanings: absence of laws or language disorder that prevents an individual from naming things. We analyze both aspects of this term.

Within the framework of philosophy and the social sciences

From the point of view of ethical reflection, anomy occurs when the individual lives his dimension moral with the absence of norms that regulate their behavior. In this sense, a person acts morally when he has incorporated norms that serve to guide his conduct and, therefore, anomie occurs when there is an absence of moral criteria.

From the point of view of sociology, some thinkers have considered that social anomy manifests itself in those situations where those that there is a normative derangement in some aspect of society, for example a lack of regulation

normative in the workplace, a circumstance that could be defined as the law of anything goes or the law of the jungle.

A concrete example of anomie would be the case in which some workers carry out their activity without any type of contract or legal framework that protects them.

A problem that affects language

Certain neurological problems lead to an obvious limitation in the ability to speak. When an individual cannot name things because he cannot find the words, anomie occurs. This language disorder is also known as anomic aphasia.

People with this limitation can speak but with limitations, since they cannot find the right words with certain frequency (for example, they do not remember the names of people very close or unable to name an object known). In this way, a person with anomic aphasia knows what a thing is but is unable to say the name of that thing. This problem is due to a mismatch between the cerebral hemispheres.

In other words, language is articulated in the left hemisphere, but for coordination Come in thought and language be effective, it is necessary that the hemisphere right interact correctly with the left one.

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Themes in Anomia