Tag

Metaphors

All articles tagged with #metaphors

health2 years ago

Unveiling Ancient Misogyny: Pregnancy Ideas Spanning 2,000 Years

Historian Kathleen Crowther argues that ancient metaphors and ideas about pregnancy, such as the "bun in the oven," perpetuate a deeply misogynistic view of women's bodies as passive. In her book, "Policing Pregnant Bodies," Crowther explores the historical roots of these metaphors and their influence on modern concepts of pregnancy. She also highlights the significance of the heart as the seat of the soul in ancient Greek philosophy and its connection to the debate over fetal heartbeat laws. Crowther challenges the notion that a beating heart signifies the presence of a person, emphasizing the complex and often contradictory historical perspectives on abortion.

neuroscience2 years ago

Describing Sensations: Do You Need to Feel Them First?

A new study challenges the notion that somatosensation is fundamental for understanding metaphors that have to do with tactile sensations. Research from the University of Chicago with a unique individual who was born without somatosensation shows that you can comprehend and use tactile language and metaphors without relying on previous sensory experiences. The study demonstrates that individuals can comprehend and use tactile language and metaphor without recruiting past somatosensory experiences, and thus challenges a strong definition of embodied cognition which requires sensory simulations in language comprehension and abstract thought.