Entity Metaphor

Overview

An entity metaphor is a cognitive tool where abstract concepts are understood and discussed as if they were concrete entities or objects. This metaphorical mapping allows us to apply our knowledge of physical objects to the abstract domain, making it more tangible and manageable.

Key Concepts

The core idea is to reify abstract notions. For instance, “love is a journey” treats love as a physical path with a start, end, and obstacles.

• Reification: Giving physical form to abstract concepts.
• Mapping: Transferring properties from the source domain (physical object) to the target domain (abstract concept).
• Conceptualization: Influencing how we think about and interact with abstract ideas.

Deep Dive

Lakoff and Johnson’s work highlights how entity metaphors permeate our language and thought. Consider “time is money.” We talk about “spending time,” “saving time,” and “wasting time,” treating time as a quantifiable resource.

This metaphor allows us to:

• Quantify and measure abstract concepts.
• Make decisions based on perceived costs and benefits.
• Structure our understanding of complex phenomena.

Applications

Entity metaphors are prevalent in:

• Economics: “The economy is a machine.”
• Politics: “The nation is a family.”
• Psychology: “The mind is a computer.”
• Everyday language, shaping our understanding of emotions, ideas, and social constructs.

Challenges & Misconceptions

While useful, entity metaphors can also be limiting or misleading. Treating “society is a body” can lead to organicist views, potentially justifying social hierarchies or interventions that overlook individual agency.

Misconceptions arise when the metaphor is taken too literally, obscuring the abstract nature of the concept being discussed.

FAQs

What is an example of an entity metaphor?

“Argument is war” is a common entity metaphor. We “attack” weak points, “defend” our position, and “win” or “lose” arguments.

How do entity metaphors affect our thinking?

They provide a framework for understanding, enabling us to reason about abstract concepts using concrete logic. However, they can also bias our perspectives.