"Sadness is a Heap of Sand". Thinking about Metaphors

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to understand metaphors in themselves and in our cognitive economy. Steinhart (2001) characterized metaphors in terms of processes of analogical transference. Metaphors, so considered, appear to respond to a natural tendency of the mind that would be common to both necessary and inductive processes and, apparently, even to insane ones. However, it is important to understand these analogical transference processes as a whole and in their similitudes and differences in the various cases. I first analyze necessary and inductive transference processes and consider different models for their explanation. Then, I focus chiefly on metaphors and their peculiarities. I consider a potential rule-following explanation; I differentiate between the process of creation and of understanding metaphors from the author’s and the reader’s perspectives and how this impinges on our explanatory models. From here, I connect back to the question of analogical transference and reconsider the extent to which it applies to metaphors. Finally, I address a related problem concerning the potential risks that are also tied to our dispositional metaphorical capacities.

Author's Profile

Olga Ramirez Calle
University of Málaga

Analytics

Added to PP
2023-01-27

Downloads
95 (#84,199)

6 months
56 (#66,269)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?