All thought is metaphorical
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Original Question
I've heard the claim "all thought is metaphorical"; I've heard almost as many times the following retort: "all thought is metaphorical is logically equivalent to saying 'no thought is metaphorical'".
However, I don't see a problem with the initial claim. I can imagine a scenario where someone demonstrates that at the root of our cognitive process (not biological) rest on some metaphorical mechanism to achieve what we call 'thought'. This doesn't seem trivial or meaningless.
However, I don't see a problem with the initial claim. I can imagine a scenario where someone demonstrates that at the root of our cognitive process (not biological) rest on some metaphorical mechanism to achieve what we call 'thought'. This doesn't seem trivial or meaningless.
Answers
2I believe that the person submitting the question intended 'all thought is metaphysical,' which is part of the claim by many Christian apologists that the mind and consciousness cannot have a natural origin in the brain proposing a form of necessary dualism.
If this is the case the proposal is 'begging the question' assuming the lack of objective evidence that ALL consciousness, thought and mind originate naturally from the brain, therefore the the origin of consciousness and the mind must be metaphysical.
If this is the case the proposal is 'begging the question' assuming the lack of objective evidence that ALL consciousness, thought and mind originate naturally from the brain, therefore the the origin of consciousness and the mind must be metaphysical.
"Something is metaphorical when you use it to stand for, or symbolize, another thing" is the definition that would best be applied here. So without being extremely argumentative and difficult, one would have to agree here. As for it being the same as "no thought is metaphorical," this would need explanation. Perhaps it is just me, but I see no connection here. It seems like a simple unjustified claim.
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