Metaphor as the Method of Philosophizing: An Analysis of the Role of Metaphors in Islamic Philosophy with Emphasis on Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Authors

1 Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic studies, University of Tehran,Tehran, IR.

2 Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and islamic studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.48308/kj.2025.240789.1337

Abstract

Metaphor is one of the foundational concepts in philosophy and  linguistics and has consistently attracted the attention of scholars. The theory of conceptual metaphor, proposed by Lakoff and Johnson, is based on the premise that metaphors are not merely linguistic tools but play a fundamental role in the structure of thought and theorization, such that abstract concepts are understood and processed through concrete and tangible experiences. The main objective of this study is to examine the function of conceptual metaphors as a methodological tool in the philosophical thought of Muslim philosophers, with a focus on the metaphor “argument is war.” This research follows a descriptive-analytical method and investigates philosophical concepts and reasoning in the works of philosophers such as al-Fārābī, Avicenna, and Mullā Ṣadrā. The findings indicate that the metaphor “argument as war” appears in expressions such as “refuting objections,” “undermining opposing views,” and “establishing arguments against an adversary,” which are prevalent in the writings of these thinkers. These usages reveal the metaphor’s significant role in shaping modes of reasoning, structuring philosophical discourse, and explaining abstract concepts. Contrary to the view that metaphors function unconsciously, the evidence suggests that conceptual metaphors were employed consciously, or at least potentially consciously, in facilitating the transition from the empirical and sensory realm to the abstract in philosophical reasoning. Accordingly, conceptual metaphors can be considered valid methodological tools in philosophizing, providing a means for analyzing concepts and formulating philosophical thought and theory.

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Main Subjects

References

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Shenakht
Volume 18, Issue 1 - Serial Number 90
September 2025
Pages 79-100

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 09 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 20 August 2025

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