Abstract – and metaphorically speaking…
Metaphors are precision tools for the talking professions
like coaches, therapists, and consultants. Metaphors
simultaneously use language and images and by this they
bridge between different domains of experience like
identity and relating, cognitions and emotions. Using
metaphors is simply unavoidable, they are ubiquitous.
Their conscious use allows for subtly balancing difference
and similarity, and by this providing descriptions of
solutions that may be both attractively different from some
“problematic” current state, and feasibly small. They
connect our neocortical thinking with our limbic decision
making, enabling good solutions.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
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Wittgenstein‘s Warning applies …
“After several unsuccessful attempts to weld my [thoughts]
together into such a whole, I realized that I should never
succeed. The best that I could write would never be more
than philosophical remarks. … And this was, of course,
connected with the very nature of the investigation. For this
compels us to travel over a wide field of thought, criss-cross
in every direction. … Thus, this [poster] is only an album.”
(from “Philosophical Investigations”, foreword)
[…]
Each of the sentences I write is trying to say the whole thing,
i.e. the same thing over and over again; it is as though they
were all simply views of an object seen from different
angles.” (from “Culture and Values”, 2-7)
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2009
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To quote – and un-quote …
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“The ever increasing complexity of each subdiscipline makes it
harder and harder for people to keep up with work that is not directly
relevant to their own. In self-defense, scientists develop a
sophisticated technique of one-line dismissal –
‘What is a simple reason I can ignore this result?’”
(Jerome A. Feldman: “From Molecule to Metaphor”, Cambridge 2006 / 2008; p.342)
A reviewer's comment to my proposal was: "My view is that -
I could hardly agree more – provided the reviewer included the
metaphorical meanings of “trivially”, like the etymological one of
“tri-via” meaning “three ways”, equally valid and mutually
supportive, strengthening-each-other ways of recognizing some truth,
here e.g.: (cognitive) linguistics, neurobiology, and solution focus.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
while what the author observes is true - it is trivially so."
„Tri-Vially“: Neuro-linguo-SF-> Metaphors
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„(cognitive)
linguistics“
„helpful metaphors“
„neurobiology“
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2007
„solution focus“
Source-path-goal schema – of change…
“It is important to remember that the metaphor is not in the words – it
is in the conceptual mappings. The basic mappings in the event
structure metaphor include the following:
Causes are forces. // States are locations (bounded regions in space)
// Changes are movements (into or out of bounded regions) //
Actions are self-propelled movements. // Purposes are destinations. //
Means are paths (to destinations) // Difficulties are impediments to
motions. // Expected progress is a travel schedule, // a schedule is a
virtual traveller who reaches a prearranged destination at a
prearranged time. // External events are large, moving objects. //
Long-term, purposeful activities are journeys. // A difficulty is
something that impedes motion towards a destination.
Metaphorical difficulties of this sort come in five types:
blockages, features of the terrain, burdens, counterforces, and lack of
an energy source.”
(Jerome A. Feldman: “From Molecule to Metaphor”, Cambridge 2006 / 2008; p.207)
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
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„The map is not the territory …“
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Alfred Korzybski, Science and Sanity - An
introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and
General Semantics, 4th Ed., 1958, p. 58
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2008
“A map is not the territory it
represents, but if correct, it has a
similar structure to the territory,
which accounts for its usefulness.
...
If we reflect upon our languages,
we find that at best they must be
considered only as maps. A word
is not the object it represents;
and languages exhibit also this
particular self-reflexiveness, …
which introduces serious
complexities…
The disregard of these
complexities is tragically
disastrous in daily life and
science."
Change: opposites – and polarities (& identity)…
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George Spencer-Brown's "Laws of Form" (1969) states that
"distinction is perfect continence”, hence creates opposites
of within the marked space versus outside the marked space.
Topological “distance” on that path also means being less like the
distant aspect; closeness represents being more similar to what is
close – and metaphor surfs on the border between little distance =
very similar” and “no distance at all = identical”.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
In contrast, polarities are “perfect incontinence”: they connect
the opposite poles. SF scaling (“scala” = latin for ladder!)
is one kind of polarity, linking a “problem”-pole to a “solution”-pole.
Scales – between differences and similarities
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10
9
(almost)
identical
pretty different
6
5
4
3
Comparison:
A is like an other
2
1
0
Metaphor:
A is an other
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
polar opposites
7
pretty
similar
8
The “SF-Matrix” –polarities² identify solution steps …
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The “SF-Matrix” combines two examples of polarities, where
opposites like good – bad (or problem – solution), and past - future,
are connected by a line that represents both the difference and the
connection between the poles, and can be subdivided into degrees of
difference/connection.
To imagine and describe potential change, the words of a
(metaphorical!) “source-path-goal” schema are used in SF:
resources, goals, steps, and obstacles.
Do©KS 2013
Along that „path“, SF-scaling applies seamlessly.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Metaphorical Components of the Solution Matrix
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value
+
„experiences“
„not (yet!!) realizable
daydreams“
„obstacles“
„visions“
„goals“
„milestones“
„skills“
past
…
teps
S
t
Firs
present
time
future
„bad experiences“
„behaviours to do less of“
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2006
„what to avoid“
Change steps: relevance – and feasibility…
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So SF as well as metaphor combine differences to enable change:
by working on the verge of difference and similarity ("I is an other" Rimbaud / Geary) they use the brain's creative skills to elicit steps
big enough to make a difference, yet small enough to be feasible.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
The image of “ladder-and-rungs” of SF-scaling serves as a metaphor
for “goals-and-steps” - which are themselves metaphors for desired
change! The double metaphor combines Bateson's “a difference that
makes a difference” with several ways of understanding
neighborhood / nearness - in space (what else is next to it),
- in logical sequence (presuppositions, implications),
- in time (what happened or will happen next),
- in sound (what sounds almost identical, yet isn't:
like “align” versus “a line”; “a part” versus “apart”),
- in attributes (what else is in an animal).
Brain logic: between language and limbics …
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Brain studies indicate that
decisions seem to be made
NOT in the neocortex – BUT,
rather, in the limibic system.
Metaphors build “bridges”
between language and image!
- and by that between the
language-processing and the
decision-making centers of
the brain.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2009
But in the limbic system there
is no language processing
(Broca and Wernicke areas),
only feelings and pictures.
Logic: induction, deduction – and abduction…
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So what in cognitive, analytical, rational (“left brain”) thinking may be
mutually exclusive (like logical opposites), may well be closely related
(“next to each other” when thinking “in mindscape”) in associative,
visual, primary-process-like (“right brain”) thinking.
“… that whole fabric of living things is not put together by logic.’ …
‘So what do they use instead?’ ‘Metaphor,’ Bateson replied, ‘that’s
how this whole fabric of mental interconnections holds together.
Metaphor is right at the bottom of being alive’.”
(quoted from: Fritjof Capra: “Unkommon Wisdom. Conversations with remarkable people”, Simon &
Schuster; New York 1988 [Bantam reprint 1989} pp.76-77)
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
Gregory Bateson’s “syllogism in grass” (“man dies, grass dies: man is
grass“) and Charles Sanders Peirce’s “abduction” (abductive, as
opposed to deductive or inductive, reasoning) use the same
approach – in contrast to classical, aristotelian syllogisms or logical
conclusions.
Obstacles and Levels of Solutions Thinking …
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3. develop solution at this level
2. change
level
(switch on
metaphors)
1. blocked?
4. check how this
metaphorical
solution-constellation
can be re-translated
into the real-world level,
and become
implemented there
5. move on
Albert Einstein: “The significant problems we face cannot be solved
at the same level of thinking that we were at when we created them.“
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2010
- forward to next obstacle …
Selected readings – for further understanding …
George Lakoff & Mark Johnson: “Metaphors we live by” - THE classic (1980) book on modern understanding of how
fundamental metaphors are for language.
James Geary: “I is an other” (2011) - Comprehensive, yet easy to read and insightful collection of the connections
between metaphor and: - thought, money, mind, advertising, brain, body, politics, pleasure, kids, science, parables
& proverbs, innovation, and psychology; a must read for metaphor fans.
James Lawley & Penny Tompkins: „Metaphors in Mind“ (2000) - Surprising access to exploring our everyday use of
metaphor in our inner, mental and emotional “maps”, our “psyche-scapes”, including a set of questions called “clean
language” to help access this landscape without damaging it. There’s also a comprehensive website on this:
(www.cleanlanguage.co.uk)
Gareth Morgan: “Images of Organization” (1986) - offers eight basic metaphors (machines, organisms, brains, flux &
transformation, instruments of domination etc.) for understanding organizations of all kind, and explains, what the
consequences and differences are, depending on what metaphor you choose and use. „Imaginization“ (1993)
expands the metaphorical spectrum of organisations further.
Richard E. Nisbett: „The Geography of Thought. How Asians and Westerners Think Differently … and Why” (2003) –
shares interesting insights into how culture shapes language, which then restricts both expression and
understanding of our beliefs and of the world(s) around us.
Chip & Dan Heath: „Switch. How to change when change is hard” (2010) – uses a classical three-piece metaphor of
elephant, rider, and path, to explain what change agents of all kind should know, respect, and apply.
Tsultrim Allione: „Feeding your Demons. Ancient wisdom for resolving inner conflict” (2008) – is one more exotic
example of the many ways of how heuristics of change and healing can be described using mythical figures – here:
“demons” – and related metaphors.
Jerome A. Feldman: “From Molecule to Metaphor” (2006 / 2008) – Elegantly walking the storyline from the basic
functioning of individual neurons to neural networks to image schemas to complex cognition, language, and
metaphor.
(in German language only:) Helmut Fuchs & Andreas Huber: “Metaphoring. Komplexität erfolgreich managen.”
(2002) - Written by a trainer and a journalist, this is easy to read and full of both depth of background and ideas for
practical application of metaphors in management contexts.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
© Focus Five
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Metaphor goes network – an invitation:
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There may be very different thoughts
about these ideas among different
professional and amateur thinkers.
I‘d love to learn about yours!
Klaus Schenck
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49-173-6696562
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]
Do©KS 2013
If you‘d like to share ideas and
experiences from your point of view,
please feel welcome to contact me!
– to help produce more useful
mis-understandings …
Metaphor goes – InterAction …
© Focus Five
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PS.:
A more comprehensive article about this topic has been
submitted to the SFCT-journal “InterAction”.
To learn more about, and maybe discuss the content
with me, you’re welcome to contact me about a preview
of the text!
Do©KS 2013
Klaus Schenck
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49-173-6696562
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Klaus Schenck, Eichendorffstr.19, D-69493 Hirschberg, 0173-6696562, [email protected]