Single Idea 7776

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

Full Idea

Metaphors mean what the words, in their most literal interpretation, mean, and nothing more.

Gist of Idea

Metaphors just mean what their words literally mean

Source

Donald Davidson (What Metaphors Mean [1978], p.30)

Book Reference

'On Metaphor', ed/tr. Sacks,Sheldon [Chicago 1981], p.30


A Reaction

This pronouncement must be the result of Davidson anguishing over the truth conditions for metaphors, which are usually either taken to have a 'metaphorical meaning', or to be abbreviated similes. He solved his problem at a stroke! Plausible.