sustainability/death-of-environ/metaphors.html
This is a modification of parts of Table 4.1 in Lakoff and Johnson (1999). Lakoff and Johnson list 24 primary metaphors in their table. I am not contesting that there is evidence that people think this way, but suggesting that if they learned about complex systems they might have a different selection of metaphors that could be more amenable to framing questions relating to sustainability.
| Lakoff and Johnson metaphor |
complex metaphor replacement | significance |
| Affection is warmth | Natural environemnts are comfortable | Large steps in metabolism or industry give
off more waste heat and are inherently more inefficient. Too much warmth
is bad. Plants and soil moderate heat loss and create very comfortable environments. |
| Importance is big | Creative importance comes from small things | "Big" and "more" should be replaced with the potential for new and creative solutions. Anything that is "big" is also probably old and less productive. |
| Difficulties are burdens | Some stresses build potential | Instead of seeing difficulties or stress as something to be avoided, i.e. a "burden" we need to view some stresses (in particular disturbances) as a natural part of learning and adapting. |
| Containers are categories | Connections build strength | The containers metaphor is extremely limiting. Instead, focusing on the connections between objects/categories reinforces the natural feeling that more links create more strength and resiliency. |
| Linear scales are paths | There are always multiple paths | Although people may percieve that they are moving along a path, the emphasis should be on the opportunity to choose from multiple paths and the appreciation that each path is different. |
| Organization is a physical structure | ||
| States are locations | States are combinations and connections | |
| Change is motion | Change | flipping states |
| Purposes are destinations | Purpose is not a goal but the path | |
| Contol is up | Ethical control is from within | |
| Understanding is grasping | Understanding is knowing how to act | |