6 - Metaphor and context
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 March 2010
Summary
In his Languages of Art, Goodman proposes a general approach to metaphor that emphasizes its contextual character. I will here review the basic features of his treatment and then offer some critical comments in defense of a revised version of contextualism. I begin, then, with an account of Goodman's views.
CONTEXTUALISM AND METAPHOR
Metaphor, says Goodman, “is a matter of teaching an old word new tricks – of applying an old label in a new way.” This characterization is, however, not sufficient, since “every application of a predicate to a new event or a newfound object is new; but such routine projection does not constitute metaphor.” The further characterization offered is as follows:
In routine projection, habit applies a label to a case not already decided. Arbitrary application of a newly coined term is equally unobstructed by prior decision. But metaphorical application of a label to an object defies an explicit or tacit prior denial of that label to that object. Where there is metaphor, there is conflict: the picture is sad rather than gay even though it is insentient and hence neither sad nor gay. Application of a term is metaphorical only if to some extent contra-indicated.
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- Symbolic WorldsArt, Science, Language, Ritual, pp. 74 - 88Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1996