Secondary philosophizin’.

It can linger on long after the scientific theory it’s based on has been superceded. So the earth/water/fire/air elemental theory lives on as metaphor. People still use the simplistic “left brain-right brain” to describe styles of thinking. At some point a scientist said “we only know what 10% of the brain does”- this was twisted into “we only use 10% of our brains.” The scientist’s description was misunderstood to be a complete explanation. The misconception lingers desite being well refuted by our ever more detailed mapping of brain function.

Using scientific concepts as feedstock for metaphor is appealing because it lends a sciency air of authority. “Quantum” anything- it must be cutting edge! But more often than not, the implications of the metaphor are not supported in any real way, or even contradicted by, the theory. Metaphors, of course, are free for all to do with as they please… but false appeals to scientific authority are not due any respect whatsoever.

Advertisement