At this point the mechanism of existential passage is secured. I have spoken of it before as a first stepping stone along the philosopher's metaphysical path. We have now tested it and determined that it will support us. We step onto it and prepare for the next step. Our second stepping stone will be the historical precedent promised back in Chapter 2.
Metaphors are ambiguous, and hence open to eternal re-interpretation.
So it should be noted that this author's stated interpretation of this particular metaphor is the only one intended, or even understood, by the author himself. Re-interpretation would create a different metaphor, according to the interest of the interpreter. For an introduction to two arguments and their refutations, see Chapter 7, note 15 .