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Metaphor in Medicine: The Metaphorical Method

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Part of the book series: International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine ((LIME,volume 47))

Abstract

What is to be shown in this chapter is that and how metaphor may be used as a scientific method of analysis and how it functions in medical statements. The metaphorical method is used to gain insights into the philosophy of medicine and bioethics. Philosophy of medicine is metaphors about medicine. The meanings of medicine are generated by a constant stream of metaphors. Types of metaphors are presented and examples are given how to work with them (A healthcare worker (H) – patient (P) metaphoric: H/P modeling in medicine). Metaphorical methods are useful for analysis of and writing research papers (a guideline how to do that is presented). The Metaphorical Method is used throughout this book to critically examine medicine and bioethics, practice and theory and establish a philosophy of medicine relevant to its practical tasks.

† Deceased

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Correspondence to Barbara Maier .

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Maier, B., Shibles†, W.A. (2011). Metaphor in Medicine: The Metaphorical Method. In: The Philosophy and Practice of Medicine and Bioethics. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8867-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8867-3_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8866-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8867-3

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