Aristotle in the Poetics (1457b7-33) gives a definition of metaphor, stating it is a notion of word transference, and gives a taxonomy of four ways in which this is possible: genus for species (synecdocheGS), species for genus (synecdocheSG), species for species (synonymity), and analogy (A:B::C:D). However, in the Rhetoric, when introducing the notion of simile, Aristotle gives an example of metaphor, The lion leapt, that does not neatly fit this taxonomy (1406b20-24). After a brief discussion on Plato’s uses of analogy in the Timaeus and Republic, Richards’ (1936) notions of tenor and vehicle, and Tversky’s (1977) evidence for asymmetric similarities, it will be shown that The lion leapt is better understood as a genus for genus transfer, which is not included in Aristotle’s taxonomy. A suggested revision to Aristotle’s original taxonomy is given in the conclusion.
Tim DOWLING (Mon,) studied this question.