Is Everything Metaphor?

Language philosopher Bry Willis explores the erosion of the boundary between literal and figurative speech by synthesising the theories of George Lakoff and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Lakoff argues that human cognition is inherently built upon metaphorical structures, while Wittgenstein suggests that words lack fixed essences and instead rely on fluid social patterns. Together, these perspectives imply that even the most basic nouns function as conceptual shortcuts rather than precise mirrors of an objective reality. This creates a philosophical paradox where the concept of metaphor becomes so pervasive that it effectively loses its traditional meaning. Ultimately, the source concludes that language is a practical system of approximation maintained by shared human habits. Regardless of its lack of a literal core, language remains a functional tool for coordinating our collective experiences.👉 https://philosophics.blog/2026/03/04/when-everything-is-metaphor-nothing-is/