The validation of metaphors

Abstract

In this paper we introduce models as metaphors for the description of reality We consider a number of case studies of contemporary research pollution of the NorthSea the ow eld of theWadden Sea drillstring dynamics the use of metaphors in psychoanalysis In all these cases validation of the results takes a very dierent form Also this validation is certainly not in agreement with the picture of scienti c research projected by textbook examples In the discussion we draw some conclusions on the use and appreciation of models and metaphors in the sciences