Metaphor and rational discourse

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This volume collates papers from an interdisciplinary conference held in 1995 at Trinity College, Dublin. While the contributions from historians, philosophers and literary scholars reflect their different disciplinary backgrounds, they are alike in dealing with the essential role metaphor plays in texts and discourses ranging from Plato through the Middle Ages to virtual reality. Theoretical issues are addressed, mostly in context with concrete examples. Most of the papers critically evaluate metaphor as part of rational thought rather than the enemy of reason, and some of them also interrogate dubious uses of metaphor. The volume reflects the openness of debate at the conference and the shared belief in the need for textual evidence.