Philosophy in the Flesh

"Philosophy in the Flesh," by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, argues that our understanding of abstract concepts is fundamentally rooted in our bodily experiences. Rather than thinking purely through detached reasoning, our minds shape ideas based on how we interact physically with the world—like how we relate to space, force, or motion. This means many of our beliefs, language, and reasoning are grounded in bodily states and sensory experiences, influencing how we think and communicate complex ideas. Essentially, our body plays a central role in shaping our mental and philosophical understanding.