Abstract ? Tools and Techniques Paper
Decision-making tools and techniques are aids to assist an individual in the critical thinking process. These tools and techniques are many and vary in style and use. The following pages will examine the Metaphorical Thinking tool and give examples of how it is applied in the decision-making process.
When considering metaphorical thinking, the first thing that comes to mind is "metaphor" and its use in literature. How is a metaphor something that can be used as a decision making tool? The definition of a metaphor is "A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison. i.e.?'a sea of troubles'."(2006). After considering the very definition of a metaphor, it becomes more clear why writers have used them for centuries. The use of metaphors in literature aids the reader in opening up his or her mind to allow the exploration of different thoughts. If an artist masters the use of metaphors, they can write a masterpiece that will take readers on a journey beyond imagination.
Now, imagine applying the use of metaphors to critical thinking. "If we can't even *see* something until we have "the right metaphor" and if we think in metaphors, why aren't we taught more about this way of thinking? Why are metaphors relegated to a few weeks (days?) in English class and left to the realm of the poets?" (Wycoff, 2006). When an individual learns to expand their way of thinking to incorporate metaphorical ideas, they will spark the creative thinking process. Creative thinking enables us to open o ...