OF DANCING MOLECULES: THE POWER OF METAPHORS

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OF DANCING MOLECULES THE POWER OF METAPHORS

• Written by Maura Flannery
• June 5, 2001

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What is a Metaphor?

• Metaphors are figures of speech that add richness
  to language and thought by likening two seemingly
  dissimilar things.

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The word Chaperone as a Metaphor

• The word chaperone brings to mind a system of
  commonplace meanings associated with it.
• These include the idea that chaperones encourage
  proper interactions and curb or break up improper
  ones.

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Sometimes a metaphor becomes so familiar it is
hardly though of as a metaphor. This is true of
the idea of the heart as a pump.
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The Problems with Metaphors

• The fact that metaphors have such a powerful
  influence on thinking means that they can also
  mislead.
• A metaphor can be so pervasive that once it
  lodges in the imagination, it can successfully
  eliminate or discredit any evidence which might
  be regarded as contradictory(Johnathan Miller
  1978)
• Metaphors in science are not always fruitful
  they do not always lead to real advances in
  understanding.

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A metaphor is good and useful as long as its
imperfections are kept in mind. (Agnes Arber 1954)