Metaphorically Perceived Knowledge Growing in Society

           Knowledge, for different people, alters their mind into perceiving the world into dissimilar views. "Locke's philosophy, which follows Bacon and the experimental scientists, searches for truth in the physical world and attempts to understand knowledge as a psychological phenomenon" (Locke 814).  For the section that we've analyzed thus far, Book III's main focus is the perception of the meaning of words. Although containing differential meanings when compared to Locke, Lakoff and Johnson analyze metaphorical concepts that put human thought processes as linguistic expressions that are largely metaphorical. Within the concept of linguistic expressions and knowledge, the speech act theory aids in understanding the break-down  of  words and their meanings.

          Locke states, "we have direct sensations, of course, but we know only the ideas of these sensations; all other ideas are formed by reflecting upon the primary ideas caused by sensory perception" (Locke 814).  Therefore, we have direct knowledge only of our own ideas. The question that Locke brings out is whether it is possible to know the real essences of things. When looking at this concept and configuring whether words are the source to many of our ideas it is justifiable to use Lakoff and Johnson to aid in the understanding of words. Locke and Lakoff and Johnson both agree on the thoughts governing matters of intellect. Thoughts and words come from everyday knowledge. Concepts that we learn overtime shape our everyday reality. "If we are right in suggesting that our conceptual system  is largely metaphorical, then the way we think what we experience, and what we do every day is very much a matter of metaphor" (Johnson 1).

            

          In order to understand the theory of knowledge, it is important to understand the theory of language. John L. Austen originated the speech act theory in 1962.  According to the Bedford Glossary, Austen emphasized contextual, performative nature of speech and views utterances as acts governed  by rules. The Bedford Glossary then goes on to say that speech act theorists contest that, "all possible sentences are either kernel (basic) or these kernel sentences declare something that can be determined to be either true or false." The three speech acts that Austen really focuses our attention to is the locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary act. The illocutionary act is for a particular function where the perlocutionary act depends on whether the utterance act actually affects the hearer's action or perception. Another theorist that draws our attention to speech act theory is John R. Searle (1969) . John R. Searle took a similar approach to Austen but added his own twist and said that there are 4 components of  speech act. For Searle, in addition to illocutionary and perlocutionary, speech act relies on the utterance act and propositional act.   

            

         When we state something as "time is money" we use the metaphorical language that Lakoff and Johnson speak about. While using metaphorical language we are also using Locke's idea that knowledge itself is independent of language. It is fair to say that Locke would agree that the metaphor "time is money" represents the real essence of things. This quotes relates to the three acts that Austen governs as speech act theory because, "pretending to the knowledge of things, we hinder as much as we can the discovery of truth, by perplexing one another all we can by a perverse use of those signs which we make use of to convey truth to one another" (Locke 815).  By stating that "time is money" serves as a concept of knowledge that society learns over time. But in regards to arguing that point in a different light, Locke would state that words in their own way, have no signification. Although common use may regulate the definition of a word, nobody really has authority to establish the true definition of a word. If Locke were to look at the three acts of speech act theory in relation to knowledge, a word is said with meaning, informs and persuades.

            

        While Locke speaks of  perceived knowledge, Lakoff and Johnson speak of metaphors and compares the human thought process as using metaphorical language. Although philosopher Locke differentiates from Lakoff and Johnson, their concepts of words and significance of words match-up in some ways. The Bedford Glossary states significance as, "the meaning of something and also refers to how important something is. Readers relate the verbal meaning of a word to other elements in their lives such as personal experiences, values, beliefs, and general cultural mores." Words have significance and although Locke , Lakoff and Johnson have different perceptions of how we know a word, it is fair to say that words hold significance in society. 

-Anjelica MacGregor-