Questionable Analogy
- The analogy is always in a premise, X is like Y.
- A second premise will state (or be implied) that Y is good or bad, true or false.
- If Y is good, the conclusion will be that X is good; if Y is bad, the conclusion will be that X is bad.
What are some examples of false analogy?
- Employees are like nails. ...
- Government is like business. ...
- "People are like dogs. ...
- "A school is not so different from a business. ...
- "Education cannot prepare men and women for marriage. ...
- "Most extremists follow Islam. ...
- "Students should be allowed to look at their textbooks during examinations. ...
What are the 12 types of analogy?
What Are the Types of Analogy?
- Semantic Analogies. Scholastic aptitude and achievement tests such as the SAT, MAT or GRE examinations frequently ask analogy questions based on vocabulary categories.
- Classification Analogies. ...
- Association Analogies. ...
- Mathematical Analogies. ...
- Logical Analogies. ...
- Other Analogies. ...
Is questionable the antonym for certain?
questionable | definition: subject to question | synonyms: funny, in question, problematical, dubious, impugnable| antonyms: unquestionable, incontestable, sure ...
What is the opposite of questionable?
While the synonyms dubious and questionable are close in meaning, dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation. When is it sensible to use problematic instead of questionable?
What's an example of a false analogy?
A false analogy is a type of informal fallacy. It states that since Item A and Item B both have Quality X in common, they must also have Quality Y in common. For example, say Joan and Mary both drive pickup trucks. Since Joan is a teacher, Mary must also be a teacher.
What is a faulty analogy?
The fallacy, or false analogy, is an argument based on misleading, superficial, or implausible comparisons. It is also known as a faulty analogy, weak analogy, wrongful comparison, metaphor as argument, and analogical fallacy. The term comes from the Latin word fallacia, meaning "deception, deceit, trick, or artifice"
Why is false analogy bad?
A false analogy is an informal fallacy. It applies to inductive arguments. It is an informal fallacy because the error concerns what the argument is about, and not the argument itself.
Why do we use false analogy?
False analogy, like the name suggests, is a logical fallacy in which someone argues on the basis of a faulty or weak analogy. It's a common type of error as people frequently use misleading and inaccurate analogies to support their ideas and views.
Is weak analogy and false analogy the same?
A false analogy is the assumption that if two things are alike in one regard, they must be alike in other ways. It is also known as a weak analogy, faulty analogy, false metaphor, bad analogy, questionable analogy, or faulty comparison.
What is an example of a false cause fallacy?
This fallacy falsely assumes that one event causes another. Often a reader will mistake a time connection for a cause-effect connection. EXAMPLES: Every time I wash my car, it rains. Our garage sale made lots of money before Joan showed up. Obviously, she scared off all the customers.
What is a weak analogy example?
Examples of Weak Analogy Fallacy: I am going to be a doctor, just like my dad. I am not going to anything that is green. My car is better since it has more horsepower than your car. The moon is like a balloon since both have air inside them.
When was false analogy used?
False Analogy, also called Faulty Analogy, is an informal logical fallacy in inductive reasoning. It's a part of Generalizations Fallacies group. It usually occurs when someone applies or assumes that if two things or events have similarities in one or more respects, they are similar in other properties too.
What do you call a bad comparison?
(also known as: bad comparison, false comparison, inconsistent comparison [form of]) Description: Comparing one thing to another that is really not related, in order to make one thing look more or less desirable than it really is.
What is false analogy?
False Analogy - when a comparison is made between two ideas or objects that seemingly have similar characteristics, but the comparison does not hold up. The characteristics of the two things actually differ in the area that is being compared.
What are some examples of false analogy?
Examples of False Analogy: 1. Historically, public schools have done very well, so the problems of public schools today-lack of achievement, lack of discipline - are due to ineffective teachers. (Reality: Public schools have only been truly inclusive of all students since the mid-1900's; also, achievement standards have been raised over time.)
What is the definition of an analogy?
Paul Elsher. An argument by analogy refers to an argument that makes inferences based on an analogy, or comparison, between two situations or objects. False analogy, like the name suggests, is a logical fallacy in which someone argues on the basis of a faulty or weak analogy.
What Is a False Analogy?
The fallacy of false analogy arises when one attempts to prove or disprove a claim using an analogy that is not suitable for the situation.
How do analogies help in an argument?
Relevant analogies are effective tools for illustrating a point and can provide strong evidence for an argument.
Why is the watchmaker analogy fallacious?
Here, the argument is fallacious because the conclusion is drawn from a few similar aspects between a watch and the universe, which are, in reality, more different form each other than alike. This type of argument is more famously known as the “ watchmaker ” analogy, which is an argument formed by William Bailey (1802) for the existence of God.
Who pointed out the rulebook for arguments?
As Anthony Weston pointed out in his book A Rulebook for Arguments:
What happens if the cases being compared do not share enough similarities?
However, if the cases being compared do not share enough similarities, or the similarities are not really relevant to the issue at hand, the analogy is too weak to be used justifiably.
What is questionable premise fallacy?
From the recipe and examples in the textbook, notice the highlights. Similar to Ad Hominem circumstantial, a person or group is attacked in the conclusion as being wrong about a position on an issue. But unlike Ad Hominem, the premise is relevant to the conclusion - there will be an attempt to describe the person's or group's position on an issue. However, the attempted descriptionwill be false or at least very questionable, being an exaggeration or distortionof the person's or group's true position.
Why are slippery slope and questionable cause similar?
Slippery Slope and Questionable Cause are very similar, because both have a causal claim made in the conclusion.
Is the premise or premises an exaggeration or distortion of the person's true position?
Again, the burden is on us to be informed that the premise or premises is an exaggeration or distortion of the person's true position. At least after studying the trick behind this fallacy, one would be wise to be cautious when anyone is describing a position of someone else you know the person disagrees with, as when a Democrat describes what a Republican believes or a Republican describe what a Democrat believes.
What is an analogy?
What is an analogy? It is a literary device compares two things and is designed to clarify a situation or scene or for the purpose of more detailed clarification or explanation.
What is analogy in literature?
Analogies in Literature. Just like authors love to use similes and metaphors to add an element of visualization to their writings, the same is true of analogies. William Shakespeare was a big fan of analogies and used them in all his plays.
What is an analogy in a sentence?
The analogy should support the conclusion you are trying to draw and provide visual cues in the mind of the reader. Here is an example of one in a sentence. A normal sentence might be, “The man and his mother are very close.”. Here is the same content but written as an analogy. “Like a boy and his dog that are inseparable, ...
How to use analogy in writing?
If you are going to use an analogy in a written text, consider other figures of speech and make sure it is the appropriate choice for the situation. Consider the two things you want to compare and what are the things they have in common. The analogy should support the conclusion you are trying to draw and provide visual cues in the mind ...
What is a simile in a logical argument?
A simile compares two different things in order to create a third vision with a new meaning. For example,” he is like a shadow of his former self.”. The meaning is he is casting a new shadow of his former self which must be completely different than his original shadow. So, if an analogy is more like a logical argument with ...
How are similes, metaphors, and analogies similar?
While similes, metaphors, and analogies are similar in that they all compare two different things, similes and metaphors are figures of speech while an analogy is more akin to a logical argument. It’s important for a writer to understand the differences between the three to help an author decide on which of the three to use.
Why is it important to read and write analogies?
Being able to accurately read and write analogies improves both the writing and reading skills of children and makes both skills more enjoyable. The free imagination of children allows them to “see” imagery from an analogy that an adult might not appreciate.
False Analogy Fallacy
A fallacy is an error in one's reasoning that can lead to faulty or invalid arguments and claims. Fallacies are often used in writing or speeches in attempts to persuade an audience. These types of fallacies are called rhetorical fallacies, and they can be used to manipulate or deceive people into believing false narratives or claims.
What is a False Analogy?
A false analogy is the assumption that if two things are alike in one regard, they must be alike in other ways. It is also known as a weak analogy, faulty analogy, false metaphor, bad analogy, questionable analogy, or faulty comparison.

Slippery Slope
Questionable Dilemma
Straw Person
Hasty Conclusion
Questionable Cause
Questionable Analogy
- Technically the book classifies this argument as fallacy of presumption - a type of questionable premise. A questionable analogy occurs in the premise and hence we should not presume evidence has been offeredfor the conclusion just because a creative analogy has been used to get our attention. Key point: creative analogies can help us understand ar...
Suppressed Evidence