What is a theory-as-building metaphor?

A conventional metaphor in which a theory is represented as a building in comparisons such as the following:

• constructing the building represents thinking up the theory
• the sturdiness of the building represents the theory's logical coherence and basis in fact

Here are some examples in English:

• Is that the foundation for your theory?
• The theory needs more support.
• We need some more facts or the argument will fall apart.
• We need to construct a strong argument for that.
• They exploded his latest theory.

• What is a metaphor for rational processes?

Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980

• Concept module: theory-as-building metaphor
• In modular book: Metaphors in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
• In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998

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