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Friday, May 1, 2009

Conceptual Blending and Analogy




In the article "Conceptual Blending and Analogy" by Gilles Fauconnier he explains the meaning and concepts behind "Blending" and "analogies" in the sense of cognitive science. All of these are just different forms for us to interpret and understand our experiences in the world. What i find interesting, which is pretty accurate is the fact that we use completely unrelated experience in the physical sense to help us understand another experience. The example that stuck out to me most in the section was the explanation of the ski instructor trying to teach a novice, telling him to "imagine that he was a waiter in paris carrying a tray with champagne and croissants" (261). This would be considered an action blend. I think this style of conceptualizing is definitely linked to how we use religions. For instance, isn't the bible and other forms of sacred scriptures 'blending' so you understand your experiences in your own life? You're learning how to act according to an example which is (in a very literal and physical sense) probably very different. The waiter carrying a tray is an example explaining how to act for a skier when he is skiing, and the religious documents and scriptures are "examples" of how to act within your own personal life. 

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