chapter 6，7

小石卒

Chapter 6: Ontological Metaphors
The chapter 6 tells about the ontological metaphors, it lets me understand abstract concepts (like ideas, emotions, or time) by treating them as concrete entities or substances. For example, we talk about "inflation" as a tangible thing ("Inflation is attacking our savings") or "time" as a resource ("I spent too much time on that"). These metaphors help us refer to, quantify, and reason about abstract ideas by grounding them in physical experience. They make intangible concepts manageable by giving them structure, like viewing an argument as a "building" with a "foundation" (logical basis) and "weak points" (flaws).
chapter 7 personfication
Personification is a type of ontological metaphor where we give human characteristics to non-human entities. For instance, we say "Life has cheated me" (life acts like a person capable of betrayal) or "My car refuses to start" (the car has human will). This makes abstract or inanimate things easier to relate to by mapping them onto human motivations, emotions, or actions. Personification helps us understand complex phenomena through familiar human terms, such as treating nature as a "cruel" force or a theory as "explaining" something (as if it could communicate).

Reflection
These chapters show how metaphors are not just poetic tricks but essential tools for thinking. By turning abstract ideas into objects or people, we make sense of the world using our physical and social experiences. For example, calling time a "resource" (ontological metaphor) or describing a computer as "stubborn" (personification) helps us navigate concepts we can’t touch or see.
By referring to and quantifying some abstract objects, these can help us understand and be aware of them, making me more aware that our lives cannot do without these metaphors. We can even not understand this world.