Scientists turn to metaphors to formulate and explain scientific concepts, but an ill-considered metaphor can lead to social misunderstandings and counterproductive policies, Brendon Larson observes in this stimulating book. He explores how metaphors can entangle scientific facts with social values and warns that, particularly in the environmental realm, incautious metaphors can reinforce prevailing values that are inconsistent with desirable sustainability outcomes. "The Metaphoric Web" draws on four case studies - two from nineteenth-century evolutionary science, and two from contemporary biodiversity science - to reveal how metaphors may shape the possibility of sustainability. Arguing that scientists must assume greater responsibility for their metaphors, and that the rest of us must become more critically aware of them, the author urges more critical reflection on the social dimensions and implications of metaphors while offering practical suggestions for choosing among alternative scientific metaphors.
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2011
- Venue
Unknown venue
- Publication date
2011-06-07
- Fields of study
Political Science, Philosophy, Environmental Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- alternative scientific metaphors
Different metaphor choices considered for framing and communicating scientific ideas.
- biodiversity science
Contemporary science of biological diversity discussed as one source of modern case material.
- counterproductive policies
Policy responses that work against desired sustainability goals when shaped by misleading framing.
- environmental sustainability
The sustainability domain used to assess how metaphor choice affects environmental thinking and policy.
Aliases: sustainability
- evolutionary science
Nineteenth-century evolutionary biology discussed as one source of historical case material.
- four case studies
The four examples, split between historical evolutionary science and contemporary biodiversity science, used to examine metaphor use.
- metaphors
Linguistic or conceptual figures used to frame and explain scientific ideas in the book's discussion.
- scientific concepts
Scientific ideas or constructs that are communicated and organized through metaphor.
Aliases: scientific ideas
- social misunderstandings
Misinterpretations or confusion in social and policy contexts associated with metaphor use.
- social values
Norms and priorities from society that can become linked to scientific framing.
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