METAPHOR AS AN ATTEMPT TO “LOOK INTO” THE ESSENCE OF THINGS

Abstract

Abstract: The paper represents deep comprehension of metaphor taking into account the interdisciplinary nature of modern linguistic research, particularly the integration of knowledge from philosophy and psychology into it. The need for an integral approach to the study of the phenomenon of metaphor is determined by the shift of the focus of attention observed in recent decades to the trope towards logic and a deterministic understanding of the essence of consciousness overall, oftentimes leading to contradictions in theories of metaphor and numerous disputes about its nature. On this ground, the author of the article proposes to study metaphor both from the viewpoint of cognitive theories and within the framework of a holistic paradigm, in which the world is interpreted as a system, and the individual is able to perceive things in their interconnection and unity, thereby revealing more profound layers of meaning. During the analysis of the theory and examples from literature, the author comes to conclusion that metaphor is something more than the work of the brain, namely, it is an attempt to see the essence “through the mind.”