Metaphor and reality

When I was in 11^th standard, there was a chapter in physics ‘potential and current ’. Physics teacher started teaching about ‘current’ and defined it as ‘flow of electrons’. One curious student asked how electrons flow in a wire. Teacher gave an example of water flowing into pipe. Student understood, satisfied and sat down. Few weeks later, when that student was doing some electrical fitting at his home he cuts a wire to tie into another one, and suddenly he realized that if current flows like water into a pipe, and if I cut a wire, flowing electrons must come out as water comes out of pipe. However it did not happen and never will.

Now the question is why teacher gave an example of water flowing into pipe. The reason is someone can understand something only in the language which is already known by him. It has been great practice from ancient time. But the reality is, there is never ever any example which can depict reality as it is. Anything which needs to be understood must be understood as it is not with any example whatsoever. Examples play a great role to understand anything, it can succeed to make you understand most of the thing of any topic, and however it will never ever provide the exact real understanding.

This is what happened at ancient time and gave rise to mythology. Since teachers, sages used examples to convey their messages. They used languages which were known to people at that time. As times passes, examples converted into stories, assumptions, and epitomes. This is clearly we can see in today’s world where people are very much indulge in symbols. They worship symbols and treat those as reality.

There are many instances where we cannot go ahead without metaphors. Literature has great deal with it. Without metaphors literature might not be complete. however while teaching , telling , discussing we must admit and keep it in mind that just to understand examples are being used, however these are not the reality and never can be. This is what we can give to out next generation to make them aware of what they are learning and not trapped with merely symbols and metaphors.