Publicado 2025-08-06
Palabras clave
- Darwin,
- Metáfora,
- Ciencia,
- Tropo
- Darwin,
- Metaphor,
- Science,
- Trope

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
Resumen
Numerosos estudios han destacado la importancia de las metáforas en la teoría de Darwin, resaltando su papel no solo como herramientas retóricas, sino como elementos conceptuales clave para el desarrollo de su pensamiento. Este artículo respalda dicha idea y enfatiza que las metáforas en la obra darwiniana cumplen funciones complejas y diversas. Sin embargo, el propósito principal de este trabajo no es reiterar esa relevancia, sino demostrar que Darwin empleó sus metáforas de manera consciente y reflexiva, evaluando críticamente su utilidad y límites. Asimismo, el artículo examina cómo Darwin defendió estas metáforas ante las críticas y malentendidos de su tiempo, presentando argumentos que reflejan su profunda comprensión de las dimensiones conceptuales y epistemológicas del lenguaje metafórico en la construcción del conocimiento científico.
Citas
- Al-Zahrani, A. (2008). Darwin’s metaphors revisited: Conceptual metaphors, conceptual blends, and idealized cognitive models in the theory of evolution. Metaphor and Symbol, 23(1), 50-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926480701723607
- Archibald, D. J. (2014). Aristotle’s ladder, Darwin’s tree: The evolution of visual metaphors for biological order. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/columbia/9780231164122.001.0001
- Baum, D. A., & Smith, S. D. (2012). Tree thinking: An introduction to phylogenetic biology. Roberts & Co.
- Beer, G. (2004). Darwin`s plots: Evolutionary narrative in Darwin, George Eliot and nineteenth-century fiction. Cambridge University Press.
- Black, M. (1966). Modelos y metáforas. Tecnos.
- Blancke, S., Schellens, T., Soetaert, R., Van Keer, H., & Braeckman, J. (2014). From ends to causes (and back again) by metaphor: The paradox of natural selection. Science & Education, 23(4), 793-808. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-013-9648-8
- Blumenberg, H. (2003). Paradigmas para una metaforología. Trotta.
- Boyd, R. (1993). Metaphor and theory change: What is “metaphor” a metaphor for? En A. Ortony (Ed.), Metaphor and thought (pp. 481-532). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139173865.023
- Bradie, M. (1999). Science and metaphor. Biology and Philosophy, 14, 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006601214943
- Bustos, E. (2013). Argumentando una innovación conceptual: Metáfora y argumentación analógica. Revista Iberoamericana de Argumentación, 7, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.15366/ria2013.7.003
- Darwin, C. R. (1837-1838). Notebook B: [Transmutation of species]. CUL-DAR121. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=CUL-DAR121.-&viewtype=side&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1838a). Notebook M: [Metaphysics on morals and speculations on expression]. CUL-DAR125. https://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=side&itemID=CUL-DAR125.-&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R (1838b). Notebook D [Transmutation of species]. CUL-DAR123. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=text&itemID=CUL-DAR123.-&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1838-9). Notebook N [Metaphysics and expression]. CUL-DAR126. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=side&itemID=CUL-DAR126.-&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1843). MS.DAR.205.5.90v. En Principle of divergence, transitional organs, instincts (DAR 205.5). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00205-00005/185
- Darwin, C. R. (1848). MS.DAR.205.5.127v. En Principle of divergence, transitional organs, instincts (DAR 205.5). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00205-00005/259
- Darwin, C. R. (1851). A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species: The Lepadidæ; or, pedunculated cirripedes (Vol. 1). The Ray Society. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F339.1&viewtype=text&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1852-1855). MS.DAR.205.6.51r. En Embryology (DAR 205.6). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00205-00006/104
- Darwin, C. R. (1854). A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species: The Balanidæ, (or sessile cirripedes); the Verrucidæ, etc. etc. etc. (Vol. 2). The Ray Society. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F339.2&viewtype=text&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1857-1858a). MS.DAR.205.5.183r. En Principle of divergence, transitional organs, instincts (DAR 205.5). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00205-00005/370
- Darwin, C. R. (1857-1858b). MS.DAR.205.5.184r. En Principle of divergence, transitional organs, instincts (DAR 205.5). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00205-00005/372
- Darwin, C. R. (1859). On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life (1a. ed.). John Murray. https://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F373&viewtype=text&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1861, 23 de mayo). [Letter to John Frederick William Herschel]. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCP-LETT-3154.xml
- Darwin, C. R. (1868a). The variations of animals and plants under domestication (Vol. 1). John Murray.
- Darwin, C. R. (1868b). The variations of animals and plants under domestication (Vol. 2). John Murray.
- Darwin, C. R. (1868c). MS.DAR.80B91r. En Descent portfolios 1st edn, Scraps (DAR 80). Cambridge University Library. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00080/227
- Darwin, C. R. (1872). The origin of species by means of natural selection or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life (6a. ed.) John Murray. https://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F391&viewtype=text&pageseq=1
- Darwin, C. R. (1909). The foundations of origin of species, a sketch written in 1842. F. Darwin (Ed.). Cambridge University Press. http://darwin-online.org.uk/converted/pdf/1909_Foundations_F1555.pdf
- Darwin, C. R. (1958). The autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882 with the original omissions restored. N. Barlow (Ed.). Collins. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F1497&pageseq=1&view type=text
- Darwin, C. R. (1975). Charles Darwin’s natural selection being the second part of his big species book written from 1856 to 1858. R. C. Stauffer (Ed.). Cambridge University Press. http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=text&itemID=F1583&pageseq=1
- Darwin, F., & Seward, A. C. (Eds.) (1903). More letters of Charles Darwin: A record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters (Vol. 1). John Murray.
- Davidson, D. (1978). What metaphors mean. Critical Inquiry, 5(1), 31-48.
- Depew, D. J. (2009). The rhetoric of the “Origin of Species”. En M. Ruse & R. J. Richards (Eds.), The Cambridge companion to the “Origin of Species” (pp. 237-255). Cambridge University Press.
- D’Hombres, E. (2012). The ‘division of physiological labour’: The birth, life and death of a concept. Journal of the History of Biology, 45(1), 3-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-010-9256-2
- Fox Keller, E. (1995). Refiguring life: Metaphors of twentieth- century biology. Columbia University Press.
- Fox Keller, E. (2002). Making sense of life: Explaining biological development with models, metaphors, and machines. Harvard University Press.
- Gale, B. G. (1972). Darwin and the concept of a struggle for existence: A study in the extrascientific origins of scientific ideas. Isis, 63(3), 321-344. https://doi.org/10.1086/350940
- Gould, S. J. (2000). A tree grows in Paris: Lamarck’s division of worms and revision of nature. En: S. J. Gould, The lying stones of Marrakech: Penultimate reflections in natural history (pp. 115-143). Harmony Books.
- Gregory, T. R. (2008). Understanding evolutionary trees. Evolution: Education and outreach, 1, 121-137.
- Greene, J. C. (1977). Darwin as a social evolutionist. Journal of the History of Biology, 10(1), 1-27.
- Gruber, H. (1980). The evolving systems approach to creative scientific work: Charles Darwin’s early thought. En T. Nickles (Ed.), Scientific discovery: Case studies (pp. 113-130). Reidel.
- Gruber, H. (1984). Darwin sobre el hombre: Un estudio psicológico de la creatividad científica. Alianza.
- Haeckel, E. (1879). The evolution of man. C. Keegan Paul & Company.
- Hellström, N. P. (2011). The tree as evolutionary icon: TREE in the Natural History Museum. Archives of natural history, 38(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3366/anh.2011.0001
- Herbert, S. (1971). Darwin, Malthus, and selection. Journal of the History of Biology, 4(1), 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00356983
- Hesse, M. (1970). Models and analogies in sciences. University of Notre Dame Press.
- Hesse, M. (1988). The cognitive claims of metaphor. The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 2(1), 1-16. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25668224
- Himmelfarb, G. (1968). Darwin and the Darwinian revolution. The Norton Library.
- Hodge, M. J. S. (2009). Capitalist contexts for Darwinian theory: Land, finance, industry and empire. Journal of the History of Biology, 42(3), 399-416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-009-9187-y
- Hull, D. L. (2005). Deconstructing Darwin: Evolutionary theory in context. Journal of the History of Biology, 38(1), 137-152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-004-6514-1
- Huxley, T. H. (1968), Collected essays (Vol. 9). Greenwood Press.
- Jones, L. B. (1989). Schumpeter versus Darwin: In re Malthus. Southern Economic Journal, 56(2), 410-422. https://doi.org/10.2307/1059219
- Kohn, D. (1980). Theories to work by: Rejected theories, reproduction, and Darwin’s path to natural selection. Studies in History of Biology, 4, 67-70.
- Kohn, D. (1997). The aesthetic construction of Darwin’s theory. En R. S. Cohen (Ed.), The elusive synthesis: Aesthetics and science (pp. 13-48). Kluwer Academic.
- Labrador-Montero, D. (2022). Darwin y la metáfora en ciencia. La retroalimentación conceptual entre la economía política y la historia natural británicas en los siglos XVIII y XIX (Tesis Doctoral, Universidad de Salamanca). Repositorio Documental Gredos. https://gredos.usal.es/handle/10366/151006
- Labrador-Montero, D. (en prensa). La metáfora de la división del trabajo en las teorías de Milne-Edwards y Spencer. Tópicos, Revista de Filosofía.
- Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1991). Metáforas de la vida cotidiana. Cátedra.
- Lamarck, J. B. (1809). Philosophie zoologique, ou Exposition des considérations relatives à l’histoire naturelle des animaux (Vol. 2). Dentu. ark:/13960/t0fv3cc1j
- Lecointre, G., & Le Guyader, H. (2007). The tree of life: A phylogenetic classification. Belknap.
- Lewontin, R. (1968). The concept of evolution. En D. L. Sills (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social sciences (vol. 5, pp. 202-210). Macmillan Co. & the Free Press.
- Limoges, C. (1994). Milne-Edwards, Darwin, Durkheim and the division of labour: A case study in reciprocal conceptual exchanges between the social and the natural sciences. En I. B. Cohen (Ed.), The natural sciences and the social sciences (pp. 317-343). Kluwer Academic.
- Lyell, C. (1832). Principles of geology, being an attempt to explain the former changes of the Earth’s surface, by reference to causes now in operation (Vol. 2). John Murray.
- Maasen, S., Mendelsohn, E. y Weingart, P. (Eds.) (1995), Biology as society, society as biology: Metaphors. Kluwer Academic. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0673-3
- Manier, E. (1978). The young Darwin and his cultural circle: A study of influences which helped shape the language and logic of the first drafts of the theory of natural selection. D. Reidel.
- Manier, E. (1980). Darwin’s language and logic. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 11(4), 305-323. https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-3681(80)90009-6
- Marcos, A. (1995). Biología, realismo y metáfora. Ágora. Papeles de filosofía, 14(1), 77-97.
- Mayr, E. (1991). Una larga controversia: Darwin y el darwinismo. Crítica.
- Noguera-Solano, R. (2013). The metaphor of the architect in Darwin: Chance and free will. Zygon, 48(4), 859-874. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12045
- Pancaldi, G. (1985). Darwin’s intellectual development (commentary). En D. Kohn (Ed.), The Darwinian heritage (pp. 259-264). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400854714.259
- Pancaldi, G. (2019). Darwin’s technology of life. Isis, 110(4), 680-700. https://doi.org/10.1086/706483
- Pearce, T. (2010). “A great complication of circumstances”— Darwin and the economy of nature. Journal of the History of Biology, 43, 493-528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-009-9205-0
- Peckham, M. (1959). Introduction. En C. Darwin, The origin of species: A variorum text (pp. 9-34). University of Pennsylvania Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fhp1j.3
- Radick, G. (2003). Is the theory of natural selection independent of its history? En J. Hodge & G. Radick (Eds.), The Cambridge companion to Darwin (pp. 143-167). Cambridge University Press.
- Reynolds, A. S. (2018). The third lens metaphor and the creation of modern cell biology. The University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226563435.001.0001
- Reynolds, A. S. (2022) Understanding metaphors in the life sciences. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108938778
- Richards, R. J. (2005). Darwin’s metaphysics of mind. En V. Hösle, & C. Illies (Eds.) Darwin and philosophy (pp. 166-180). Notre Dame University Press. https://home.uchicago.edu/~rjr6/articles/Darwinian%20Metaphysics.pdf
- Richards, R. J. (2009). Darwin’s theory of natural selection and its moral purpose. En M. Ruse & R. J. Richards (Eds.), The Cambridge companion to the ‘‘Origin of species’’ (pp. 47-66). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521870795.006
- Ricoeur, P. (2001). La metáfora viva. Trotta.
- Rokas, A. (2006). Genomics and the tree of life. Science, 313(5795), 1897-1899. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1134490
- Rorty, R. (1987). Unfamiliar noises: Hesse and Davidson on metaphor. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volume, 61(1), 283-296. https://doi.org/10.1093/aristoteliansupp/61.1.283
- Ruse, M. (2000). Metaphor in evolutionary biology. Revue Internationale de Philosophie, 54(214), 593-619. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23955697
- Ruse, M. (2005). Darwinism and mechanism: Metaphor in science. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 36(2), 285-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2005.03.004
- Schmieder, F. (2011). On the beginnings and early discussions of the metaphor survival of the fittest. Contributions to the History of Concepts, 6(2), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.3167/choc.2011.060204
- Schweber, S. S. (1980). Darwin and the political economist: Divergence of character. Journal of the History of Biology, 13(2), 195-289. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00125744
- Schweber, S. S. (1985). The wider British context in Darwin’s theorizing. En D. Kohn (Ed.), The Darwinian heritage (pp. 35-70). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400854714.35
- Searle, J. R. (1993). Metaphor. En A. Ortony (Ed.). Metaphor and thought (pp. 83-111). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139173865.008
- Sober, E. (1985). Darwin on natural selection: A philosophical perspective. En D. Kohn (Ed.), The Darwinian heritage (pp. 867-900). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400854714.867
- Sontag, S. (2007). La enfermedad y sus metáforas. Taurus.
- Spencer, H. (1851). Social statics or the conditions essential to human happiness. John Chapman.
- Spencer, H. (1864). The principles of biology (Vol. 1). D. Appleton & Co.
- Spencer, H. (1873). The study of sociology. Henry S. King & Co.
- Spencer, H. (1884). The principles of biology (Vol. 2). D. Appleton & Co.
- Spencer, H. (1891). The social organism. En Essays: Scientific, political, and speculative (Vol. I, pp. 265-307). Williams & Norgate.
- Todes, D. P. (1989). Darwin without Malthus: The struggle for existence in Russian evolutionary thought. Oxford University Press.
- Torrens, E., & Barahona, A. (2013). Las musas de Darwin tras el diagrama de 1859. Arbor, 189(763), a072. https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2013.763n5009
- Vorzimmer, P. J. (1969). Darwin, Malthus, and the theory of natural selection. Journal of the History of Ideas, 30(4), 527-542. https://doi.org/10.2307/2708609
- Wallace, A. R. (1891). Natural selection and tropical nature: Essays on descriptive and theoretical biology. Macmillan & Company. https://archive.org/details/Naturalselectio00Wall/page/vi/mode/2up
- Winch, D. (2001). Darwin fallen among political economists. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 145(4), 415-437. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1558182
- Worster, D. (1977). Nature’s economy: The roots of ecology. Sierra Club Books.
- Young, R. M. (1969). Malthus and the evolutionists: The common context of biological and social theory. Past & Present, 43(1), 109-145. https://doi.org/10.1093/past/43.1.109
- Young, R. M. (1971). Darwin’s metaphor: Does nature select? The Monist, 55(3), 442-503. https://doi.org/10.5840/monist197155322
- Young, R. M. (1985). Darwinism is social. En D. Kohn (Ed.), The Darwinian heritage (pp. 609-638). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400854714.609
- Young, R. M. (1989). Charles Darwin: Man and metaphor. Science as Culture, 1(5), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/09505438909526236
- Young, R. M. (1990). Darwinism and the división of labour. Science as Culture, 1(9), 110-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/09505439009526283
- Young, R. M. (1993). Darwin’s metaphor and the philosophy of science. Science as Culture, 3(3), 375-403. https://doi.org/10.1080/09505439309526356