Alfred Korzybski was a Polish-American philosopher and scientist, best known for developing the theory of general semantics. Born in 1879, he emphasized the importance of language and symbols in shaping human thought and behavior. His work aimed to improve communication and understanding by highlighting how words can influence perceptions of reality. Korzybski's most notable contribution is his book, Science and Sanity, published in 1933. In it, he introduced the idea that "the map is not the territory," meaning that our understanding of the world is not the same as the world itself. His ideas have influenced various fields, including psychology, linguistics, and education.