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Definition:
The process of analogy involves finding some sort of likeness or similarity between two
otherwise dissimilar objects or concepts. Argument from analogy plays an important role
in philosophy, taking one level of similarity and infering from it that other sorts of
similarity must also exist. This can easily go too far, resulting in the informal fallacy
of weak analogy, where weak similarities are used to infer other, stronger similarities
which are simply not justified. Argument from analogy played a large role in scholastic
philosophy and theology in the effort to find ways for human language to say something
meaningful about a supposedly transcendent god.
Also Known As: none
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Related Resources:
What is the Logic and the Philosophy of Language?
The two fields Logic and the Philosophy of Language are often treated separately, but they are nevertheless close enough that they are presented together here. Logic is the study of methods of reasoning and argumentation, both proper and improper. The Philosophy of Language, on the other hand, involves the study of how our language interacts with our thinking.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
