Ch. 2 sec. 4 Metaphorical/Literal Dependence II: Davidson on Referential Definite Descriptions, Malapropisms, and Metaphor

Metaphor, for Davidson, is like referential definite descriptions. For referential definite descriptions Davidson believes that we can use something, i.e. a sentence, that is literally false to say something true. Keith Donnellan's example is that of reference to a man at a cocktail party. Bert is talking to Ernie about the man in the corner drinking a martini. However, contrary to what Bert utters, the man in the corner is actually drinking water. So the definite description, 'the man in the corner drinking a martini' is actually false, because it is the man in the corner drinking water. Bert does not know all the facts about the man, however, according to Davidson, he does say something true with the false utterance of the definite description. We use sentences for metaphor that are false.

Malapropisms are different from metaphor in that their first literal meaning undergoes a change and then means something different. Yogi Berra once thanked the crowd at Yankee Stadium on Yogi Berra Day "for making this day necessary", when what Berra really meant was possible.