On Wed, 22 Mar 1995, Rose Zubizarreta wrote:
This is not an argument for the metaphor being "true"; it is an
explanation of the usefulness I find in it. There may be implications
of the metaphor that are not useful, and other metaphors that might
highlight other important aspects of our relationship with the
earth. I do feel that it is important to uncover the hidden
assumptions in our language, and that the issue of whether we see the
Earth, nature, etc, as "objects" or as "living beings" to be a
crucial one.
In addition to the many considerations that Jayne has raised
about metaphors, I think it is important, in determining the
usefulness of metaphors and the language in which we cast
theory, to specify the purpose for which the metaphors or
theory is intended -- to ask useful for what ?
Just as "carrying capacity" is useful for questioning unbounded
economic growth and the notions of "class struggle" and "the third
world" are (in the eyes of many) useful for addressing distributional
issues, I think "Mother Earth" as useful for sustaining life. With
due respect to others like Joy who regard Mother Earth as more than
that, as language, I think it is at least that.
... don roper
