Single Idea 18022

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

Full Idea

The fact that most metaphors involve category mistakes is not a coincidence. …A big part of them is to do with connecting objects and properties that normally seem to belong to disjoint domains.

Gist of Idea

Metaphors tend to involve category mistakes, by joining disjoint domains

Source

Ofra Magidor (Category Mistakes [2013], 3.5)

Book Reference

Magidor,Ofra: 'Category Mistakes' [OUP 2013], p.66


A Reaction

Metaphysica poets took disjoint domains and 'yoked them together by violence', according to Dr Johnson.