A Modal Theory of Metaphor

All metaphors have the logical form “metaphorically, Fx”. “Metaphorically” is a modal operator. If “F” literally denotes the property F and metaphorically denotes the property G, “Metaphorically, Fx” says that x is G in reality because in its home world (W x ) it is F, when (1) x being F is manifest in W x (2) it is a law of W x that being F causes being G (3) being G in W x is essential to x, hence it is G in all possible worlds. For example, Emily Dickinson says that her life is (metaphorically) a loaded gun. This means that the entity x that in the real world is her life, is in its home‐world a loaded gun. A loaded gun is lethal, a trait x manifests in its home world. Therefore in the real world, too, where it is not a loaded gun but a life, x is lethal and, though deceptively (as a life) calm, it is truly dangerous

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