Metaphors and Conversations in Economic Geography: Richard Rorty and the Gravity Model

ABSTRACT

By drawing upon the work of the American philosopher Richard Rorty this paper seeks to understand the role of metaphor in the recent history of economic geography, with a particular focus on the development of the gravity model. After briefly discussing the role of ‘big’ metaphors in general, the paper examines the central metaphors that inform both Rorty's critique and reconstruction of traditional philosophy. This is followed by an examination of Rorty's own theory of metaphor. The novelty of his theory is that it makes no epistemological claims; rather, the merit of a particular metaphor is judged on the basis of its usefulness rather than conformance with a set of abstract rules that define the nature of a metaphor. Using Rorty's ideas, the paper concludes with an examination of the recent history of economic geography. It is argued that that history is indeed the history of different metaphors. Such a claim is made more specific by an examination of the gravity model.