Metaphor through an evolutionary perspective on meaning
This thesis applies a theory of meaning, suggested by Millikan (1984), for explaining the problematic notion of metaphorical meaning. There is a persistent tension in existing accounts of metaphorical meaning: on the one hand, the fact that metaphors are novel and creative uses of words suggest that no systematic account can be given to what metaphorical expressions mean. On the other hand, the fact that metaphors can, and are being used intelligibly in all areas of discourse, and that metaphorical interpretations can be distinguished from nonsensical interpretations, forces us to accept that there is a systematic relation between the words used and what they are said to mean metaphorically. I exemplify this tension by discussing three accounts of metaphor offered by Searle, Davidson, and Hesse. I then present Millikan's theory of meaning that is based on an analogy she makes between linguistic and biological catergories. Her basic claim is that linguistic entities can be ascribed with a proper function, just as biological entities are so ascribed, according to their evolutionary history. The proper function of a device is that function which earlier tokens of that device had performed, which (partly) accounts
Rahat, Ehud
Metaphor through an evolutionary perspective on meaning. This thesis applies a theory of meaning, suggested by Millikan (1984), for explaining the problematic notion of metaphorical meaning. There is a persistent tension in existing accounts of metaphorical meaning: on the one hand, the fact that metaphors are novel and creative uses of words suggest that no systematic account can be given to what metaphorical expressions mean. On the other hand, the fact that metaphors can, and are being used intelligibly in all areas of discourse, and that metaphorical interpretations can be distinguished from nonsensical interpretations, forces us to accept that there is a systematic relation between the words used and what they are said to mean metaphorically. I exemplify this tension by discussing three accounts of metaphor offered by Searle, Davidson, and Hesse. I then present Millikan's theory of meaning that is based on an analogy she makes between linguistic and biological catergories. Her basic claim is that linguistic entities can be ascribed with a proper function, just as biological entities are so ascribed, according to their evolutionary history. The proper function of a device is that function which earlier tokens of that device had performed, which (partly) accounts
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