The article analyzes the shortcomings and advantages of «visualmetaphor» as instrument for understanding the essence of cognition. The inadmissibilityof identification of «visual metaphor» with «metaphor of mirror», and understanding withreflection is marked. Several possible alternative metaphors of cognition («reading»,«touching», «imagination») are considered and the occurrence of a kind of «hermeneuticcircle» formed by them is stated. The advantages of careful using the metaphor of«vision» for understanding the essence of cognition are emphasized therenith. Oneassessed the prospects of using «visual metaphor» in legal science and practice.