The metaphorical problem : realism and anti-realism in the philosophy of metaphor

This thesis is concerned with the meaning of metaphors. In particular, it examines a contemporary dispute in the philosophy of language, primarily comprising critical responses to Donald Davidson’s seminal work in the area, which focuses on the question of whether metaphorical utterances, qua metaphors, ought to receive distinctive semantic evaluations. I treat this debate as an instance of a more general form of philosophical dispute, which has been explored in some detail in recent work on the nature of realism and anti-realism. The thesis has five chapters. In the first chapter, I outline, motivate and evaluate two contrasting approaches to realism, proposed by Michael Devitt and Crispin Wright. I argue that neither is wholly satisfactory, but that a modified version of Wright’s approach is likely to be most fruitful in the philosophy of metaphor. In the second chapter, I examine the character of Davidson’s anti-realism, concluding that he is best thought of as an error-theorist about metaphorical meaning. I go on to set out a unified Davidsonian argument for semantic and pragmatic anti-realism about metaphor, and offer a sustained discussion and partial defence of the six premises that such an argument proceeds from. My third chapter outlines a series of common objectives to Davidson’s views, and argues that error-theorists have the resources to address many of these criticisms in a fairly plausible manner. In the fourth chapter, I go on to investigate the realist standing of metaphorical meaning in more detail. I examine the open-endedness of metaphor in the light of Wright’s response-dependent theory of intention, and argue that this approach offers a novel response to certain anti-realist concerns. The fifth chapter concerns the relationship between metaphor and non-conceptual content. I argue that thinking of metaphorical meanings as non-conceptual entails that the non-propositional and limitless character of metaphor does not pose a fatal objection to a pragmatic realist account, contra Davidson. I apply my suggested account to two test cases: metaphors that describe one’s emotional state, and religious metaphors, and argue that in each case, thinking of the metaphors as expressing non-conceptual contents is potentially suggestive and helpful. In that chapter, I also examine the possibility of an robustly realist approach to metaphorical meanings, modelled on the epistemicist approach to vagueness set out in recent work by Timothy Williamson. I demonstrate how the dominant objection to this account can be partially defused, and go on to examine the final standing of the dispute between realist and anti-realist

Millennial Days: Religion as Consolation and Desolation in Contemporary Scottish Poetry

This paper outlines the context of Scottish religious culture and ideology, and its impact on contemporary poets who grew up within it. Their work helps us to move beyond sectarian tensions between Protestant majority and Catholic minority by understanding the deep strategies by which these communities construct both ‘reality’ and poetry. Scottish poets in a postmodern world also find paths out of such cultural divides, by creative exploration of other spiritual traditions, and by offering a more balanced appreciation of the continuities in their own

Sublime objective: form and meaning in the poetry of Basil Bunting

Basil Bunting's place in modern English poetry is, like the man himself, difficult to fathom. At one extreme his work has found a loyal following verging at times on the sycophantic; at the other it has evoked a distrust of the "obscurity" of his method and forms, a sense of deja vu, a feeling that a minor disciple of the modernist generation has been unworthily raised to the status of a master. Between these extremes lies a range of approval more or less qualified, but all of it labouring under the difficulties created by the paradoxical texture of Bunting's verse, which stresses clarity yet employs obscure allusion, is individualistic yet admittedly derives from lessons taught by many other poets, is much concerned with form (which in the Sonatas precedes subject matter, he claims) yet gives the impression of freedom and variety; is emotional in its themes yet is also somehow rigorous and contained; and is objective while tending constantly towards the sublime. This study examines the nature and sources of these paradoxical elements in Bunting's work, while at the same time carrying out some of the task of explication which must, it seems, take place before right critical judgment of such a "difficult" poet can be arrived at. The first half deals with the external forces influencing the poetry. In Chapter II an attempt is made to find whether anything of the interesting detail of Bunting's life resolves itself into a central theme for his art. The seeds are uncovered of a quest myth of exile and heightened return which, as is later demonstrated, gives form to the whole. Chapter III examines his literary rather than personal history, and traces the influence on him of the series of poets whom he acknowledges in the Preface to Collected Poems. Although there is something of interest to be found, I trust, on each of these poets, for my own part the sections which rediscover Bunting's connections with the English epic and pastoral traditions, with Wordsworth,Wyatt and in particular with Spenser, have proved most illuminating. The discussion of external forces is completed in Chapter IV, a closely argued consideration of influential aspects of music and syntax on Bunting's verse, which attempts to bring into alignment or harmony some at least of the diverse elements, attitudes and techniques encountered in earlier chapters. Music is, of course, the point of entry into any consideration of formal elements in Bunting's poetry. In Chapter V the problem of form in modernist poetry is discussed, as well as the theory and practice of the Objectivist movement(in which Bunting played some part) and its attitude to form. Finally, following Bunting's example, the sonata forms within each of his Sonatas are examined in diagrammatic fashion, and the interplay and resolution of themes demonstrated. Chapter VI is devoted to a detailed analysis of the quest myth earlier mentioned, as it shapes and explains the diverse literary and personal materials of 'Briggflatts'. The theory of archetypal. imagery on which this form is based is further examined in Chapter VII which suggests two means by which Bunting's complex poetry can and does communicate with audiences not wholly composed of research students. Chapter VIII brings the study to completion with a brief consideration of the sublime poem, and its metamorphosis in Bunting's hands. As a whole, then, the study covers many problematic areas of Bunting's work, demonstrates why it takes the precise fo m it does, introduces much new material on the influence of other poets upon it, and discovers the great central theme which informs the work of this important and too long neglected poet

The metaphorical problem : realism and anti-realism in the philosophy of metaphor

This thesis is concerned with the meaning of metaphors. In particular, it examines a contemporary dispute in the philosophy of language, primarily comprising critical responses to Donald Davidson’s seminal work in the area, which focuses on the question of whether metaphorical utterances, qua metaphors, ought to receive distinctive semantic evaluations. I treat this debate as an instance of a more general form of philosophical dispute, which has been explored in some detail in recent work on the nature of realism and anti-realism. The thesis has five chapters. In the first chapter, I outline, motivate and evaluate two contrasting approaches to realism, proposed by Michael Devitt and Crispin Wright. I argue that neither is wholly satisfactory, but that a modified version of Wright’s approach is likely to be most fruitful in the philosophy of metaphor. In the second chapter, I examine the character of Davidson’s anti-realism, concluding that he is best thought of as an error-theorist about metaphorical meaning. I go on to set out a unified Davidsonian argument for semantic and pragmatic anti-realism about metaphor, and offer a sustained discussion and partial defence of the six premises that such an argument proceeds from. My third chapter outlines a series of common objectives to Davidson’s views, and argues that error-theorists have the resources to address many of these criticisms in a fairly plausible manner. In the fourth chapter, I go on to investigate the realist standing of metaphorical meaning in more detail. I examine the open-endedness of metaphor in the light of Wright’s response-dependent theory of intention, and argue that this approach offers a novel response to certain anti-realist concerns. The fifth chapter concerns the relationship between metaphor and non-conceptual content. I argue that thinking of metaphorical meanings as non-conceptual entails that the non-propositional and limitless character of metaphor does not pose a fatal objection to a pragmatic realist account, contra Davidson. I apply my suggested account to two test cases: metaphors that describe one’s emotional state, and religious metaphors, and argue that in each case, thinking of the metaphors as expressing non-conceptual contents is potentially suggestive and helpful. In that chapter, I also examine the possibility of an robustly realist approach to metaphorical meanings, modelled on the epistemicist approach to vagueness set out in recent work by Timothy Williamson. I demonstrate how the dominant objection to this account can be partially defused, and go on to examine the final standing of the dispute between realist and anti-realist.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Mentoring in the North: New provision, new perspectives?

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Social capital, social inclusion and changing school contexts: a Scottish perspective

This paper synthesises a collaborative review of social capital theory, with particular regard for its relevance to the changing educational landscape within Scotland. The review considers the common and distinctive elements of social capital, developed by the founding fathers – Putnam, Bourdieu and Coleman – and explores how these might help to understand the changing contexts and pursue opportunities for growth