[MD] Mystics and Brains

[craigerb at comcast.net]

[Arlo] 
> All words are metaphor. It is a shared understanding in a given pragmatic 
> context that makes a word "literal". When I say "voice" (or "mind", or 
> "spirit"), and say that as a pointer I find that particular metaphor valuable, 
> I do this from an intuitive point, but I don't delude myself into thinking that 
> MY valuable metaphor is RIGHT for all people and all times. Indeed, it changes 
> for me as well.

Why not say: It is a shared understanding in a given pragmatic context that makes a word "MEANINGFUL"?  Then, words are used literally when they're used with their usual meaning & used
metaphorically only if they're used with other than their usual meaning.
Craig