Understanding metaphorical understanding (literally)

• DOI: 10.1007/s13194-022-00479-5
• Publication Date: 2022-07-19T13:02:51Z
• Authors: Michael T. Stuart; Daniel Wilkenfeld
• Keywords: Value (mathematics); Phenomenon; Leverage (statistics)

Abstract Metaphors are found all throughout science: in published papers, working hypotheses, policy documents, lecture slides, grant proposals, and press releases. They serve different functions, but perhaps most striking is the way they enable understanding, of a theory, phenomenon, or idea. In this paper, we leverage recent advances on nature metaphor understanding to explore how accomplish feat. We attempt shift focus away from epistemic value content metaphors, metaphor’s consequences. Many famous scientific metaphors epistemically good, not primarily because what say about world, cause us think. Specifically, increase either by improving our sets representations (by making them more minimal accurate), it easier for encode process data complex subjects changing disposed conceptualize those subjects. This view hints towards new positions concerning testimonial factivity, abilities, discovery via metaphor, relation between models.