Conceptualization of the Gene in Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene

• Authors: Drogosz Anna
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper investigates the conceptualization of the gene in the book The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins from the point of view of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the Conceptual Blending Theory. It is argued that there are two senses of the gene: gene1 is a physically existing section of the DNA, gene2 is information about protein synthesis. It is the second sense of the concept of the gene that undergoes metaphorization. The analysis reveals that Dawkins’ gene is a conceptual blend which becomes extensively elaborated. Through elaboration the gene becomes personified on the one hand and deified on the other. The study shows the richness of Dawkins’ personification: the gene is conceptualized as building and controlling organisms, cooperating and competing with other genes, even showing personality traits. Deification of the gene is focused on highlighting its stipulated immortality and power to create organisms, humans included. The gene blend is at the same time used as an input space in the integration network producing the meme blend. It is also established that the personification of the gene plays the theory-constitutive role in the sense of Boyd (1993).

Keywords

EN

personification; blending; selfish gene; metaphor in science

• Publisher: Komisja Nauk Filologicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Oddział we Wrocławiu
• Journal: Academic Journal of Modern Philology
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 6
• Pages: 75-84

Contributors

author

Drogosz Anna

• University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn