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Article published In:
Journal of Argumentation in Context
Vol. 8:3 (2019) ► pp.317–335

An argumentative reconstruction of the computer metaphor of the brain

| University of Amsterdam
| University of Amsterdam
| University of Amsterdam

The computer metaphor of the brain is frequently criticized by scientists and philosophers outside the computational paradigm. Proponents of the metaphor may then seek to defend its explanatory merits, in which case the metaphor functions as a standpoint. Insofar as previous research in argumentation theory has treated metaphors either as presentational devices or arguments by analogy, this points to hitherto unexplored aspects of how metaphors may function in argumentative discourse. We start from the assumption that the computer metaphor of the brain constitutes an explanatory hypothesis and set out to reconstruct it as a standpoint defended by a complex argumentation structure: abduction supported by analogy. We then provide three examples of real arguments conforming to our theoretically motivated construction. We conclude that our study obtains proof-of-concept but that more research is needed in order to further clarify the relationship between our theoretical construct and the complexities of empirical reality.

Keywords: abduction, analogy, argumentation, metaphor, scientific explanation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
  • 3.Theoretical framework
    • 3.1Argumentation and reasoning
    • 3.2Metaphor theory
      • 3.2.1Conceptual Metaphor Theory
      • 3.2.2Deliberate Metaphor Theory
    • 3.3Metaphor and argumentation theory
    • 3.4Metaphor, argumentation and genre
  • 4.Constructing the argumentative pattern
    • 4.1The basic pattern
      • Abduction
      • Adding the argument by analogy
    • 4.2The extended pattern: Abduction supported by coordinative argumentation
    • 4.3The argumentative pattern and empirical reality
  • 5.Discussion and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 24 January 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/jaic.18019.fin
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Cited by

Cited by 2 other publications

Bilstrup Finsen, Andreas, Gerard J. Steen & Jean H. M. Wagemans
2021. How do scientists criticize the computer metaphor of the brain?. Journal of Argumentation in Context 10:2 ► pp. 171 ff. DOI logo
van Poppel, Lotte
2021. The Study of Metaphor in Argumentation Theory. Argumentation 35:1 ► pp. 177 ff. DOI logo

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