[westoncb]

I think this is something that deserves much greater general awareness. I think by default we're pretty unaware of the kind of analogizing/metaphoring that takes place when we conceptualize anything—but it's completely pervasive. I see it as a kind of subtle 'dust on the lens' of the microscope which we use to observe things generally. It's an (in a certain sense) inescapable artifact due to the fact the we conceptualize with a definite thing with its own properties and quirks and limitations, which is the human brain. Anyway, I see it as a kind of 'bias' (best I can think of atm, but that term isn't really broad enough to capture the idea) which we could watch for and in doing so make gains in objectivity.

Edit: also, another way of looking at it is: when we express any concepts in some concrete form, the particular representation we choose (and we have to choose something) brings its own baggage along with it. And, subsequently, we end up reasoning off of the baggage rather than the thing in itself.

[dalbasal]

One that I think comes up often is the robots/automation metaphor. Technology has reduced 90% or more of farm labour needs, multiplied industrial output many times, etc. We've seen a lot of automation, but it's been vague economics.

When we think back on these things, we see technology, tools, & machines like tractors and looms. When we look forward we see robots and automation.

Practically this has 2 effects. First, we come back with a Jetsons lime picture, everything is the same as a regular hotel but the maid is a robot, the front desk is an ATM, the barman is a robot arm and the resteraunt is a Japanese conveyor belt. Robots are human shaped metaphors for technology, placeholders for unknowns.

Second, we think in terms of replacement. In reality, it's really more like efficiency. A tractor still uses a farmer, but requires a lot less time and effort to get a field ploughed. Again, there's a difference in how we think when looking back or forward.