An example of figurative language in a scientist's writing,
"Out of all the possible paths leading from the star to the eye of the observer, light will always follow the one which it can cover in the shortest time, allowance being made for the differences in its velocity in different atmospheric layers. Thus, the photons which construe a ray of light behave like intelligent beings: Out of all the possible curves they always select the one which will take them most quickly to their goal."
Plank, M. (1947/1949). Religion and natural science (F. Gaynor, Trans.). In Scientific Autobiography and other papers (pp. 151-187). Philosophical Library.
simile? anthropomorphic? teleological
Planck (writing before quantum electrodynamics was fully established) highlights how we can understand how light always passes by the shortest path by considering it as if it is behaving intelligently – that light photons evaluate the options and deliberately select the quickest path (an anthropomorphic notion – clearly photons do not think or have knowledge of optics, and a photon cannot 'know' in advance what media it might pass through).
Read examples of anthropomorphism in science
Many examples of anthropomorphism are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.
The idea that photons have a goal suggests purpose (e.g., the sun emits this photon whose purpose is to trigger a receptor in your retina, or to be absorbed by this chloroplast or solar cell, or…) – that is, teleology,
"…the historical development of theoretical research in physics has led in a remarkable way to a formulation of the principle of physical causality which possesses an explicitly teleological character…"
Plank, M. (1947/1949). Religion and natural science (F. Gaynor, Trans.). In Scientific Autobiography and other papers (pp. 151-187). Philosophical Library.
simile? anthropomorphic? teleological
Read about teleology in science
Read examples of teleological (pseudo)explanations for scientific phenomena
Read about types of pseudo-explanations
Examples of teleological statements are included in a document listing a wide range of examples of science analogies, similes, metaphors and the like, drawn from diverse sources, which can be downloaded using this link: 'Creative Comparisons: Making Science Familiar through Language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts.'
