Single Idea 18027

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 6. Interpreting Language / d. Metaphor]

Full Idea

A problem with the substitution view of metaphors is that the same predicate can have very different metaphorical contributions in different contexts. Consider 'Juliet is the sun' uttered by Romeo, and 'Stalin is the sun' from a devoted communist.

Gist of Idea

Metaphors as substitutes for the literal misses one predicate varying with context

Source

Ofra Magidor (Category Mistakes [2013], 3.5)

Book Reference

Magidor,Ofra: 'Category Mistakes' [OUP 2013], p.71


A Reaction

The substitution view never looked good (especially if you like poetry), and now it looks a lot worse.

Related Idea

Idea 18026 Maybe a metaphor is just a substitute for what is intended literally, like 'icy' for 'unemotional' [Magidor]