Franz Boas was an anthropologist in the early 20th century who argued against racist theories claiming the existence of primitive languages and cultures. He believed that all humans were essentially equal. His student Edward Sapir built upon his work, arguing that language strongly influences thought and culture by shaping how speakers view and understand the world. Benjamin Lee Whorf further developed these ideas, formulating what became known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - the theory that the language one speaks can predispose them to think and engage in cultural practices in certain ways. However, others argue that the relationship between language, thought, and culture is multidirectional and complex rather than a strictly testable hypothesis.