Analogy

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This article/section is a stub — some half-sorted notes, not necessarily checked, not necessarily correct. Feel free to ignore, or tell me about it.

In the broader sense, analogy is the transfer information from one subject to another, through an explicit comparison between two conceptual domains.

Usually when similarities mean you can probably save time bootstrapping knowledge in that other domain, by avoiding explanations from scratch.


In a narrower sense, analogy is an inference or an argument from one particular to another particular -- as opposed to deduction, induction, and abduction, where at least one of the premises or the conclusion is general. The word analogy can also


Linguistic realizations of analogy include

  • exemplification
  • metaphors
  • similes
  • allegories
  • parables


Does not include metonymy and such - those associate rather than transfer information.