Images of persons unseen the cognitive and rhetorical significance of Plato's metaphors for the gods and the soul
The aim of this thesis is to discover the cognitive role of Plato's metaphors for the gods and the soul; that is, what part they play in the expression and elucidation of his philosophical theories and arguments. I maintain that these metaphors are primarily illustrative and persuasive; that they serve both to illuminate certain concepts and ideas and to persuade the reader into accepting them as true. But I also believe that in very particular circumstances, that is, in the formulation of radically new theories, Plato uses metaphors to develop and to express ideas for which no literal terms already exist. In Part I the cognitive role of metaphor is discussed. Three modern views (the Epistemic, Non-Informative and Illustrative) are set out and compared both to Aristotle's account of metaphor and to Plato's comments on the philosophical significance of figurative language. Part II opens with a discussion of the role of metaphor in theology, embracing both modern perspectives and the views of Plato. The various groups of metaphors for the gods are examined and three passages from the dialogues are analysed in detail, showing how metaphors can function as very effective instruments of persuasion. In Part III
Pender, Elizabeth Ellen
Cognitive role of the metaphor
Images of persons unseen the cognitive and rhetorical significance of Plato's metaphors for the gods and the soul. The aim of this thesis is to discover the cognitive role of Plato's metaphors for the gods and the soul; that is, what part they play in the expression and elucidation of his philosophical theories and arguments. I maintain that these metaphors are primarily illustrative and persuasive; that they serve both to illuminate certain concepts and ideas and to persuade the reader into accepting them as true. But I also believe that in very particular circumstances, that is, in the formulation of radically new theories, Plato uses metaphors to develop and to express ideas for which no literal terms already exist. In Part I the cognitive role of metaphor is discussed. Three modern views (the Epistemic, Non-Informative and Illustrative) are set out and compared both to Aristotle's account of metaphor and to Plato's comments on the philosophical significance of figurative language. Part II opens with a discussion of the role of metaphor in theology, embracing both modern perspectives and the views of Plato. The various groups of metaphors for the gods are examined and three passages from the dialogues are analysed in detail, showing how metaphors can function as very effective instruments of persuasion. In Part III
images person unseen cognitive rhetorical significance plato metaphor god soul aim_discover cognitive role plato metaphor god soul part_play expression elucidation philosophical theory argument maintain metaphor primarily illustrative persuasive serve illuminate certain concept idea persuade reader accept true also believe particular circumstance formulation radically new theory plato use_metaphor develop express idea literal term already_exist part cognitive role metaphor discuss modern view epistemic non informative illustrative set compare aristotle_account metaphor plato comment philosophical significance figurative_language part open_discussion role metaphor theology embrace modern perspective view plato various group metaphor god examine passage dialogue_analyse detail show metaphor function effective instrument persuasion part_iii