The Use of Economic Metaphors in Political Theory: A Case Study of the Joint Ownership Metaphor in Mehdi Haeri Yazdi's theory

Abstract

Political thinkers, especially political philosophers sometimes have used basic economic concepts to formulate their theories. In the realm of political theory, metaphors have played a crucial role in clarifying complex concepts related to politics, governance, and society. In this framework, researches have been conducted in the field of political thought and their metaphorical foundations, which have not yet found the desired expansion. Metaphor, once seen as a literary device reflecting the aesthetic aspects of human language, has now considered as a fundamental element of human thought. The interdisciplinary contributions of literature, philosophy, and cognitive sciences have shaped a fresh perspective on metaphor, offering new insights and functions. Mehdi Haeri Yazdi, as a Muslim philosopher and jurist, has tried to use an economic-legal metaphor, namely "Ownership", to obtain an innovative idea in the field of political theory, which has certain implications. In this article, we will try to explain the political implications of the ownership metaphor in Haeri's political theory. It seems that despite the theoretical problems of Haeri's theory in terms of the foundations of reasoning, its democratic implications are important. By conducting researches like this, the richness of the interdisciplinary field is added