Misteln, Wälder und Frösche

Über Metaphern in der Wissenschaft

Abstract

Beginning with a personal experience, the article argues for the conviction that there is only one interesting question concerning the use of metaphors in science: whether they are good or bad metaphors. Good metaphors have a creative impact on our thinking and offer new paths for understanding or research; however, their use within a scientific community often requires courage. Bad metaphors hamper our insights by distorted or wrong images but they are nevertheless often used by generations of scientists. Three examples from the context of Evolutionary Cultural Ecology are discussed in some detail: metaphors for the concept of culture, the meaning of Bateson‘s term „ecology of mind“, and the notions behind our conceptions of boundaries or limits.