I actually think it&#x27;s much more important to realize what metaphors are exactly because they are derived through language which by default is framing our perspectives and is limited in it&#x27;s ability to express more complex reality. (Hence a picture is worth a thousand words)<p>I always look at language as a reduction of reality not a one to one relationship with reality. I.e. we as pattern recognizing feedback loops notice some phenomena and then try trough language to express it. But because we are limited beings and our language is limited in expression we end up only expressing perspectives rather than truth.<p>This could, I believe, also be one of the reasons why we have such a hard time finding a way to describe QM and general relativity in a unified manor. Our language really doesn&#x27;t do well with paradoxes.<p>The exception is in zen-buddhist philosophy that actually are much more accepting of paradoxes (wisdom lies in paradox)<p>But thats another discussion. The primary point I am trying to make is that this reduction of reality leads to our perspectives and can both provide clarity but also trap us in a certain way of thinking.