The claim that language shapes our thinking is consistent with the claim that language is itself shaped, by environmental factors, customs, etc. Also, I think t

The claim that language shapes our thinking is consistent with the claim that language is itself shaped, by environmental factors, customs, etc. Also, I think the effect of language on our thinking is not so simple as "We give directions from an egocentric perspective, so this makes us more selfish," as if we are naive and unaware of how our own language works. It's possible that it works in the opposite way: because we think of direction egocentrically, in order to give directions, you have to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes. You also end up with phrases like "Who's 'left'? My left or your left?" which draws attention to the fact that two people see the world differently. Really, our idea of direction promotes the Western cultural idea of individuals as different from each other, and also the idea of equality between individuals. I can't force you to adopt my directions because you are facing a different way; literally, you have a different viewpoint. Geographic directions transcend my own personal viewpoint, but they also transcend everyone else's viewpoint as well. Arguably, this would make people less sensitive to the issue of selfishness vs unselfishness, which is only a moral consideration when you assume individualism.