The responsibility of language on the pandemic. Covid-19 and the metaphor of war - La responsabilità del linguaggio sulla pandemia. Covid-19 e la metafora della guerra.

This paper will analyse the language used to speak about the pandemic, critically discussing the uses of the metaphor of war, which has been widely used. The question is, therefore, whether it can be an example of language used “responsibly.” It will highlight normative qualifications, loaded with positive or negative meanings, as well as values and disvalues, conveyed by the language of the pandemic. Possible problems of ethical-juridical and bioethical relevance raised by the use of the metaphor of war will also be discussed.