Metaphors as models in biology – what we can learn from the reflection of metaphorical technical terms

Abstract

Metaphors are special linguistic and cognitive tool. They are used to transfer a concept from a source domain to an object or a process from a target domain. Due to this transfer and the resulting mapping as well as the underlying principle of analogy, metaphors have the potential to generate knowledge, and to facilitate understanding. In this sense, they resemble models in science which are also based on analogies and are used as cognitive as wells as heuristic tools. Metaphors can therefore be seen as linguistic and cognitive models (or precursor of models). According to the thesis of this article, the guided reflection of metaphorical terms in the technical language of biology can therefore indirectly address model criticism as well as the understanding of models in science. Important within this task is the encouraging of the awareness regarding the function of metaphors in the languages of science. By dealing with metaphors and the comparison of them with models in the classroom, it is possible to deal with scientific models in a more differentiated way. Selected case studies are presented to underpin the thesis.