A Comparative Study about the Meaning of Metaphors According to Mohammad Reza Isfahani and Donald Davidson’s theories

Metaphor in the West countries is an issue that has been examined from a variety of perspectives. In the Islamic rhetorical tradition, metaphor has a more limited realm for its definition and application. All the metaphor theorists, both in the West and in Islamic rhetoric, believe that metaphor, in addition to the literal meaning, has a secondary and figurative meaning, but there are two opposite views. Donald Davidson and Mohammad Reza Isfahani do not accept this basis. In their views, metaphor, in addition to the literal meaning, has no other meaning, and the issue of metaphors relates to their application and is related to the effect that makes this application in a particular context. Many articles and treatises have been written about Davidson's theory, while the theory of Sheikh Isfahani remains unknown even among the Iranian rhetoricians. This article deals with the similarities of Davidson's theory and Isfahani's view.