Tuckinatuh t1_iuy2omk wrote
Reply to comment by DrakBalek in The meaning crisis and language II — We need to ‘believe’ myth and metaphor in order to understand ourselves by Melodic_Antelope6490
In the context of conveying meaning I would argue myth and metaphor are always useful tools. There aren’t better tools. There are bad metaphors, though. To your point about traffic, like you said, as a concept it is new. If metaphors restrict themselves to ancient concepts, though (fire, love, pain), they are able to fulfil their purpose for a broader audience.
DrakBalek t1_iuy79ge wrote
>In the context of conveying meaning I would argue myth and metaphor are always useful tools.
Whenever someone uses words like "never" or "always," I like to ask myself, " . . . are we sure?"
For instance, do we consider math equations to be a means of conveying meaning? If the meaning I want to communicate is highly technical, like an equation, should I resort to a myth or a metaphor? Let's say my intent is to convey the location of something to someone. "Where's your house?" is the question I want to answer; should I tell the querent my address or a story about how I came to live there?
Yes, myth and metaphor are useful tools for communicating information; but the utility of a given tool is dependent on the user's intent.
You can use a hammer to pound a screw into a block of wood . . . but you're better off using a screwdriver.
(and that is an example of when using a metaphor (or simile) is particularly useful.)
Tuckinatuh t1_iuzgt5z wrote
Ok but you left out the part where I said “in the context of conveying meaning”. Information transfer != meaning. I’m using meaning in the metaphysical sense here; that excludes addresses and math equations.
DrakBalek t1_iv0jkaq wrote
I guess I have to question whether it's possible to have "meaning" without information. (and vice versa)
That's an interesting thought, I don't think I have an answer for it.
glass_superman t1_iv03flf wrote
What you've written reminds me of a scene from Il Postino, when the postman is trying to understand why Neruda writes in metaphors. The whole movie might be a good way to think about myths and metaphor...
Anyway:
You see, Mario...
I can't tell you...
in words different
from those I've used.
When you explain it,
poetry becomes banal.
Better than any explanation...
is the experience of feelings
that poetry can reveal...
to a nature open enough
to understand it.
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