Epitaphs and Metaphors

Abstract

Davidson believes that metaphors mean what the words in their most literal interpretation mean. The crux of the matter is to see what literal meaning is for Davidson and how it differs from the meaning in use. The author tries to show that literal meaning and use, although supposed to bedifferent, are actually very close to being the same for Davidson. Furthermore it is argued that it is wrong to identify literal meanings with nonconventional meanings, as Davidson does. It is argued, contra Davidson, that one has to rely on some kind of conventional meaning in language and that Davidson does rely on it although he says that there are no conventions in language.