more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 19161

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

Full Idea

The sentences that contain metaphors are typically obviously false or trivially true, because these are typically indications that something is intended as a metaphor.

Gist of Idea

We indicate use of a metaphor by its obvious falseness, or trivial truth

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth and Predication [2005], 6)

Book Ref

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth and Predication' [Belknap Harvard 2005], p.123

A Reaction

A nice point which sounds correct. Metaphors are famous being false, but the 'obvious' falseness signals the metaphor. If a metaphor is only obscurely false, that makes it difficult to read.

The 14 ideas with the same theme [using falsehoods to enhance understanding]:

1692 If you shouldn't argue in metaphors, then you shouldn't try to define them either [Aristotle]
7775 Understanding a metaphor is a creative act, with no rules [Davidson]
7776 Metaphors just mean what their words literally mean [Davidson]
7777 We accept a metaphor when we see the sentence is false [Davidson]
19161 We indicate use of a metaphor by its obvious falseness, or trivial truth [Davidson]
8861 Hardly a word in the language is devoid of metaphorical potential [Yablo]
18024 One theory says metaphors mean the same as the corresponding simile [Magidor]
18023 Theories of metaphor divide over whether they must have literal meanings [Magidor]
18025 The simile view of metaphors removes their magic, and won't explain why we use them [Magidor]
18026 Maybe a metaphor is just a substitute for what is intended literally, like 'icy' for 'unemotional' [Magidor]
18028 Gricean theories of metaphor involve conversational implicatures based on literal meanings [Magidor]
18029 Non-cognitivist views of metaphor says there are no metaphorical meanings, just effects of the literal [Magidor]
18022 Metaphors tend to involve category mistakes, by joining disjoint domains [Magidor]
18027 Metaphors as substitutes for the literal misses one predicate varying with context [Magidor]