April 10 - 14, 2006. Metaphors in philosophy and in science
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Board of teachers
PD Dr. Paul Ziche
Dr. Cheryce Kramer
Dr. Johannes John (Munich)
Uwe Maskos, Ph.D. (Paris)
PD Dr. Paul Ziche
Dr. Cheryce Kramer
Dr. Johannes John (Munich)
Uwe Maskos, Ph.D. (Paris)
Course Description
Metaphors in philosophical and scientific texts provide a genuine challenge for any rational reconstruction of these texts: Clearly, it is not really the task of philosophy to embark upon an „ascent“ towards a particular source of „light“ that makes us „see“ (or „grasp“?) truths; neurons do not really “communicate” in any literal sense of the word, and electricity and magnetism are not the kind of “fields” on which wild flowers would ever thrive.
Even if one views metaphors just as rhetorical devices or poetical ornaments, they violate the ordinary way of speaking. Metaphors communicate by way of oblique reference, by talking about one type of objects in order to refer to a different sort of objects. Nevertheless, metaphors do not only ensure the intelligibility of statements, they can also achieve a heightened understanding of the issues in question that surpasses anything a more direct description could provide. Since philosophical and scientific texts rely heavily on the use of metaphors, a thorough exploration as to the conditions of their functioning is critical to an understanding of the philosophical method and of the scientific process. Such an exploration demands an inherently inter-disciplinary approach combining philosophy, science studies and the history of science, literary studies and the sciences themselves.
By initiating a fruitful discourse between these disciplines, the seminar will tackle questions fundamental for an understanding of metaphor; a basic knowledge of philosophical and rhetorical theories of metaphor is presupposed (a reader with the relevant texts will be made accessible to all the participants).
Even if one views metaphors just as rhetorical devices or poetical ornaments, they violate the ordinary way of speaking. Metaphors communicate by way of oblique reference, by talking about one type of objects in order to refer to a different sort of objects. Nevertheless, metaphors do not only ensure the intelligibility of statements, they can also achieve a heightened understanding of the issues in question that surpasses anything a more direct description could provide. Since philosophical and scientific texts rely heavily on the use of metaphors, a thorough exploration as to the conditions of their functioning is critical to an understanding of the philosophical method and of the scientific process. Such an exploration demands an inherently inter-disciplinary approach combining philosophy, science studies and the history of science, literary studies and the sciences themselves.
By initiating a fruitful discourse between these disciplines, the seminar will tackle questions fundamental for an understanding of metaphor; a basic knowledge of philosophical and rhetorical theories of metaphor is presupposed (a reader with the relevant texts will be made accessible to all the participants).
Among the questions to be discussed are:
- Metaphors and realism: in which sense can metaphors claim to refer to reality? What, if anything, do they represent, and in which relation do they stand to the notion of (purely) fictional discourse? Do they represent or do they create reality? In which relation does the metaphorical creation of new realities stand to the notion of progress in science?
- Metaphors, mistakes, and vagueness: Repeatedly, metaphors have been understood as a kind of well-considered mistake (P. Valéry: méprises réfléchies; N. Goodman: calculated category-mistakes). Do the theories offered for an assessment of category mistakes or of related phenomena such as vague terms provide a clue for an understanding of metaphor? Metaphors may not be mistakes, but rather irreproachable, even necessary, elements of all discursive events; if so, then analytical philosophy’s animosity against metaphors should be critically examined.
- Metaphors and theories of explanation: More recent philosophy of science, and science studies more generally, has taught that explanation, even in the methodologically strict use as explanation in the natural sciences, is not just logical deduction, but relies on pragmatic considerations. Does such a perspective allow for a positive evaluation of the use of metaphors in science? How can results from the philosophy of science and the science studies contribute to understand the particular fertility of the sciences themselves as generators of metaphors?
- Metaphors, images, and intuition: Metaphors standard seem to rely upon intuitions; the fit between a metaphor and the notion it is intended to describe is often mediated by relations that are intuitively obvious. On the other hand, metaphors establish relations between hitherto unrelated discursive realms, thereby establishing sometimes very general and abstract types of relations. How do the intuitive and the abstracting aspects of metaphor fit together?
- The cognitive background of metaphor: The fact that metaphors are understandable despite their violation of the established rules of language has given rise to a considerable body of literature discussing the cognitive mechanisms at work in the production and in the appreciation of metaphors. How do these contributions from cognitive science fare when considered from the view-point of philosophy, literary theory or science studies?
The relationship between metaphor as a phenomenon in literature on the one hand and in philosophy and the sciences on the other will have to be considered in connection with all these issues.
All these questions require an inter-disciplinary approach. To ensure a competent treatment of metaphor, the seminar will be directed by researchers from the various fields in question; we intend a collaboration between teachers from philosophy / history of science (P. Ziche), literary studies (J. John), science studies / history of science (Ch. Kramer), and we have won, in U. Maskos, the co-operation of an out-standing scientist in a fast-advancing, and one of the most heavily metaphor-infected, fields of science, the neurosciences and molecular biology.
Applications are invited from students in all relevant disciplines in the humanities, such as philosophy, literary studies, art history, science studies; we would also very much welcome applications from interested students in the natural sciences.
The seminar will include key-note papers given by the teachers and statements by the participants, and will support an intensive discussion among students and teachers. Particular emphasis will be placed on the detailed exegesis of particular phenomena of metaphoricity in philosophy, literature, the arts (making use of the treasures of Venice), and in the actual scientific practice.
- Metaphors and realism: in which sense can metaphors claim to refer to reality? What, if anything, do they represent, and in which relation do they stand to the notion of (purely) fictional discourse? Do they represent or do they create reality? In which relation does the metaphorical creation of new realities stand to the notion of progress in science?
- Metaphors, mistakes, and vagueness: Repeatedly, metaphors have been understood as a kind of well-considered mistake (P. Valéry: méprises réfléchies; N. Goodman: calculated category-mistakes). Do the theories offered for an assessment of category mistakes or of related phenomena such as vague terms provide a clue for an understanding of metaphor? Metaphors may not be mistakes, but rather irreproachable, even necessary, elements of all discursive events; if so, then analytical philosophy’s animosity against metaphors should be critically examined.
- Metaphors and theories of explanation: More recent philosophy of science, and science studies more generally, has taught that explanation, even in the methodologically strict use as explanation in the natural sciences, is not just logical deduction, but relies on pragmatic considerations. Does such a perspective allow for a positive evaluation of the use of metaphors in science? How can results from the philosophy of science and the science studies contribute to understand the particular fertility of the sciences themselves as generators of metaphors?
- Metaphors, images, and intuition: Metaphors standard seem to rely upon intuitions; the fit between a metaphor and the notion it is intended to describe is often mediated by relations that are intuitively obvious. On the other hand, metaphors establish relations between hitherto unrelated discursive realms, thereby establishing sometimes very general and abstract types of relations. How do the intuitive and the abstracting aspects of metaphor fit together?
- The cognitive background of metaphor: The fact that metaphors are understandable despite their violation of the established rules of language has given rise to a considerable body of literature discussing the cognitive mechanisms at work in the production and in the appreciation of metaphors. How do these contributions from cognitive science fare when considered from the view-point of philosophy, literary theory or science studies?
The relationship between metaphor as a phenomenon in literature on the one hand and in philosophy and the sciences on the other will have to be considered in connection with all these issues.
All these questions require an inter-disciplinary approach. To ensure a competent treatment of metaphor, the seminar will be directed by researchers from the various fields in question; we intend a collaboration between teachers from philosophy / history of science (P. Ziche), literary studies (J. John), science studies / history of science (Ch. Kramer), and we have won, in U. Maskos, the co-operation of an out-standing scientist in a fast-advancing, and one of the most heavily metaphor-infected, fields of science, the neurosciences and molecular biology.
Applications are invited from students in all relevant disciplines in the humanities, such as philosophy, literary studies, art history, science studies; we would also very much welcome applications from interested students in the natural sciences.
The seminar will include key-note papers given by the teachers and statements by the participants, and will support an intensive discussion among students and teachers. Particular emphasis will be placed on the detailed exegesis of particular phenomena of metaphoricity in philosophy, literature, the arts (making use of the treasures of Venice), and in the actual scientific practice.
Contact
Chiara Bianchini
Tel. +39 041 2719511
Fax. + 39 041 2719510
Chiara Bianchini
Tel. +39 041 2719511
Fax. + 39 041 2719510
