«A World under a Certain Description». Metaphor, Knowledge, and Semantic Innovation in Max Black

Max Black's interaction view was a milestone in the metaphorical revival of the twentieth century, influencing both philosophical theories and those of psychology and cognitive linguistics. This article highlights the importance of Black's perspective even in today's debate, especially with regards to the following issues: the relationship between the conceptual and linguistic aspects of metaphor; and the relationship between the cognitive value and the innovative value of metaphorical statements. Resuming some philosophical conditions of Black's reevaluation of metaphor, the article shows that through the interaction view, metaphor appears to be not only a heuristic tool but also a device for semantic innovation, supporting knowledge as construction of meanings and reconfiguration - both conceptual and linguistic - of reality.