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False Analogy
Definition:
In an analogy, two objects (or events), A and B are shown to
be similar. Then it is argued that since A has property P, so
also B must have property P. An analogy fails when the two
objects, A and B, are different in a way which affects whether
they both have property P.
Examples:
- Employees are like nails. Just as nails must be hit in the
head in order to make them work, so must employees.
- Government is like business, so just as business must be
sensitive primarily to the bottom line, so also must
government. (But the objectives of government and business
are completely different, so probably they will have to meet
different criteria.)
Proof:
Identify the two objects or events being compared and the
property which both are said to possess. Show that the two
objects are different in a way which will affect whether they
both have that property.
References:
Barker: 192, Cedarblom and Paulsen: 257, Davis: 84
26 May 1995
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