The connections made by the philosopher’s comparisons are similar to the connections the poet makes with metaphors. This is like this, the poet says. The philosopher performs a similar operation: Here, this situation is like this other one, he says. Do you see it? Do you see the connection? Now, has the confusion gone?
The poet’s motivation is different. He writes not to dispel a particular confusion, but to extend the language of the world. But is it simply a grammatical extension confined to language? Or is it indeed a material extension of the world? Or perhaps it is a poetic extension of the world ― and what does that mean and consist in? Of course, there is still the question of whether this is useful or not.
The poet’s motivation is different. He writes not to dispel a particular confusion, but to extend the language of the world. But is it simply a grammatical extension confined to language? Or is it indeed a material extension of the world? Or perhaps it is a poetic extension of the world ― and what does that mean and consist in? Of course, there is still the question of whether this is useful or not.
Allow each reader, and indeed the writer, to rule on usefulness.
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