Metaphors form the basis of our ability to think
In Metaphors We Live By, Lakoff and Johnson argue that metaphors are the means by which we define our reality and thus shape how we act.
In all aspects of life, not just in politics or in love, we define our reality in terms of metaphors and then proceed to act on the basis of the metaphors. We draw inferences, set goals, make commitments, and execute plans, all on the basis of how we in part structure our experience, consciously and unconsciously, by means of metaphor.[1]
However, metaphors both illuminate and also obscure our ability to think.
The very systematicity that allows us to comprehend one aspect of a concept in terms of another (e.g., comprehending an aspect of arguing in terms of battle) will necessarily hide other aspects of the concept.[2]
Thus, it is important to be aware of the limitations of the metaphors we use and introduce new metaphors to improve our ability to think.
See also:
- The tools that we use both illuminate and limit our understanding
- Scouts frequently update their maps