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Single Idea 19161

[from 'Truth and Predication' by Donald Davidson, in 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 Reference

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.