Metaphors in adult education : cultural inspirations for advancement of theory and practice

Abstract EN

Metaphors are not only inherent element of culture, but also powerful tools of thinking.

In the paper analysis of metaphors used in theoretical stances, research outcomes reports, depicting world of adult education practice in Poland are discussed.

First, a short review of theories of metaphor is presented.

Then, the role metaphors can play in educational research is discussed.

Further, the author divides metaphors found in research and discussions about adult education into four categories: natural, astronomical, pictorial and geographical.

The author not only reviews metaphors of adult education process, but she also points to their implications for further development of practice of adult education, advancement in theory and possibilities of opening new horizons of thinking about adult education as well.

Searching for cultural sources and meaning of the metaphors in adult education research and theory aims at discovering values underlying the concepts and related contexts.

Metaphors used in adult education are analysed in the perspective of lifelong learning.

The most important issue however, is if those metaphors are useful and how they contribute to adult education’s theory and practice advancement