chapter11-30

wenyikk

Reader:文心怡
Reading Time:15-16weeks
Reading Task:11-30
Summary of the Content:
1.How Metaphors Shape Thinking
Metaphors are not mere rhetorical devices but the underlying logic of cognition. For example, metaphors like "Argument is war" and "Time is money" enable us to understand abstract concepts (argument, time) through concrete experiences (war, money).
Metaphors construct concepts partially: A metaphor like "A theory is a building" borrows only parts of the structure (e.g., "foundation," "framework") rather than equating "theory" entirely with "building."
2.The Systematic Nature and Cultural Imprints of Metaphors
Different metaphors share internal coherence. For instance, "Time is a moving object" and "Argument is a journey" are linked by the spatial logic of "advancement-goal."
Cultural values are embedded in metaphors: "More is up" (e.g., "prices rise") and "High status is up" (e.g., "promotion") reflect and reinforce social consensus.
3.The Metaphorical Foundations of Truth and Understanding
Truth is not absolutely objective but depends on cognitive frameworks. For example, "Fog is in front of the mountain" projects human spatial perception onto the mountain, rather than describing an inherent property of the mountain.
We understand the world through "experiential gestalts": The structure of "argument" (participants, attack-defense, victory-defeat) originates from the metaphorical framework of "war," making abstract interactions perceivable.
4.Challenges to Traditional Philosophy
Criticism of "objectivism" (which claims the world exists independently of cognition) and "subjectivism" (which ignores experiential constraints): The former overlooks how metaphors shape cognition, while the latter denies the regularity of experience.
Proposal of an "empiricist" perspective: Cognition is based on the interaction between the body and the environment, with metaphors serving as core tools for understanding. For example, "Love is a journey" uses the structure of "route-obstacle-destination" to give emotional relationships a narrative logic.
Evaluation:
This book subverts the common belief that "metaphors are merely rhetoric," proving they are the underlying cognitive tools through which humans understand the abstract world via concrete experiences, while uncovering the deep connection between culture and thought.
Reflection:
When we say "waste time" or "invest energy," we implicitly adopt the metaphor "Time is a resource." This leads us to "save time" like money, but may overlook time’s essence as experience—for instance, focusing on "time cost" while spending time with family can undermine emotional connection.
The West uses "Time is a straight line" ("the future is ahead"), while some cultures use "Time is a cycle" ("the past is ahead"). Failing to understand this metaphorical difference can cause miscommunication in discussions about "planning for the future"—the former refers to "making plans," while the latter may mean "adapting to cycles."