Abstract

In this book chapter I argue that an examination of Aristotle's writings on metaphor (The Poetics and The Rhetoric) reveals that, far from believing that metaphor is an ornamental extra in language, and that one had to be a genius in order to use a metaphor properly, Aristotle believes that metaphor is ubiquitous in conversation and writing. He believes that people learn and understand things better through metaphors. He distinguishes between the coinage of a metaphor and the usage of a metaphor, which allows him to claim both that metaphors are ubiquitous and that talent is required for the creation of new metaphors. Finally, he was first philosopher to argue for an entirely natural origin of literary talent.