Metaphors: Understanding Philosophy Through Images

A visually stunning journey through some key philosophical concepts, presented through simple metaphors and captivating artwork.

The perfect book for a budding philosopher or anyone interested in in exploring profound ideas through art.

The word metaphor comes to us from Ancient Greek, in which it meant “transfer.” In this book, philosophical concepts from throughout history and from all over the world, are transferred into images, which help us to understand the world that surrounds us using memorable colors and shapes. 

Designed for those curious about philosophy and its intricacies, this elegant and accessible book explores 24 metaphors, that are foundational to our understanding of the human experience and the mysteries of existence.

Each double-page spread explores

• A specific metaphor such as the mirror, light, an iceberg, or the matrix. 
• One side of the spread offers information about the philosopher; an original quote; the source text; a symbol for each metaphor; and contextual background. 
• The opposite page features a gorgeous artwork that encapsulates the overarching significance of the metaphor it illustrates. 
• From Heraclitus’ river, the first metaphor of western philosophy, to the liquid metaphor a concept introduced by the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman to describe the characteristics of contemporary society, this fascinating guide is a clear and memorable introduction to world philosophy.

Pedro Alcalde studied piano and composition and graduated in Philosophy from the Universitat de Barcelona. He holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Musicology from the Freie Universität in Berlin. His passions are Greek philosophy and music.

Merlín Alcalde holds a degree in Political Philosophy from the Sapienza University in Rome and a master’s degree in philosophy from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. He is passionate about political philosophy and the history of anarchist thought. Although he has several hobbies, such as watching movies and walking, reading is what resonates best with him.

Guim Tió’s art explores the human condition and the landscape, employing humor, irony, and challenging imagery to deal with themes such as loneliness, the passage of time, and mortality. His works have been exhibited in several countries such as Italy, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Australia, Canada and the United States.