title: The butterfly effect of the "butterfly effect".
abstract: The "Butterfly Effect" metaphor states with variance that the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas. This metaphor has become part of the common vernacular of Western culture. In this paper I discuss the origins of the metaphor, examine its current usage within popular culture, and present an argument as to why it is popular. I propose that the metaphor is a type of semantic attractor, a narrative device with invariant meaning but audience-specific contextualization. Finally I address whether the Butterfly Effect metaphor is a good example of itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Supply Chain Management, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4706, USA. Kevin.Dooley@asu.edu
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dooley