1. of Inductive Arguments
Analogies as Forms
of Inductive Arguments
Analogies as Forms of Inductive Arguments
PMI Online Education

2. Conclusion is also shared
What Is an Analogy?
ANALOGY
Event/Thing #1
Event/Thing #2
Premise is shared
What is the same?
Conclusion is also shared
INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT
An analogy is a comparison between two or more similar events or things. An inductive argument moves from specific premises to a general conclusion. When an analogy is used for an inductive argument, usually the premises between two things or events are shared, and the suggestion is that the conclusion between those two things will also be shared.
Specific premises
General Conclusion

3. Example Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you… CONCLUSION
PREMISE
Eating chocolate too much chocolate is not enjoyable
Eating chocolate is very enjoyable
What is the same?
ANALOGICAL CONCLUSION
PREMISE
For example, to eat a small piece or two of chocolate is very enjoyable, but if you eat too much chocolate, you’ll probably get sick of it. Listening to your favorite song is like eating chocolate, if you do it too much it won’t be long before you get sick of hearing your favorite song.
Here are the premises that each part of the analogy share: chocolate is enjoyable to eat. Listening to your favorite song is enjoyable.
Here is the generally accepted conclusion about chocolate: if you eat too much chocolate you’ll get sick of chocolate.
Here is the analogical conclusion about listening to your favorite song: if you listen to your favorite song too much, you’ll get sick of hearing it.
Listening to your favorite song is very enjoyable
Listening to your favorite song too much is not enjoyable
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…

4. The Argument Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you… X1 is true
Y1 is true
Eating chocolate is very enjoyable
Eating chocolate too much chocolate is not enjoyable
What is the same?
X2 is true
Y2 is true
The argument is spelled out like this: X is true about chocolate and your favorite song (they are both enjoyable). Y is also true about chocolate (if you have too much you’ll get sick of it), so Y is also probably true about listening to your favorite song (if you listen to your favorite song too much, you’ll get sick of it).
Listening to your favorite song is very enjoyable
Listening to your favorite song too much is not enjoyable
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…

5. Less Poetic Analogical Arguments
Another common analogical argument is the one that takes place between
human beings
…that doesn’t mean I’m the same as him in other ways.
I don’t know. I’m starting to see a lot of similarities.
Sorry, sorry.
I got held up at work.
Wait a minute.
There may be some…
I like spending time with you.
Yeah, right! You’re just like my last boyfriend.
Where were you?!
Not all analogical arguments use two very different things, like music and chocolate. Another very common analogical argument is the one that takes place between human beings.   
Lauren: Benjamin, where WERE you? You said you’d be here 20 minutes ago!
Benjamin: Sorry, sorry, I got held up at work. It won’t happen again.
Lauren: Yeah right! I’ve heard that before. You’re just like my last boyfriend—late all the time with lame excuses! You’ll probably tell you “need space” eventually too!
Benjamin: Wait a minute—just because your ex was late and I’m late, doesn’t mean I’m just like him. This is the first time I’ve been late. And I don’t “need space,” I like spending time with you!
Lauren: I don’t know, I’m starting to see a lot of similarities.
Benjamin: There may be some, but just because I seem the same in one way, doesn’t mean that I’m the same as him in other ways.

6. Because you share so many other things, you both:
Analogical Arguments
You draw the analogy that you both probably have similar thoughts and feelings
Because you share so many other things, you both:
You can never know for certain that your friend’s brain holds thoughts and feelings like your brain. But because you seem to share so many other things (hair, eyes, nose, elbows, and so on)--you both draw back your hand from fire, smile when someone else smiles, wince if you get punched, and so on. You draw the analogy that you both probably have similar thoughts and feelings.

7. Limitations LIMITED LIMITS All analogical arguments are Realize the
CONCLUSION
PREMISE
Eating chocolate too much chocolate may cause weight gain
Eating chocolate is very enjoyable
Realize the
of the analogy
LIMITS
Two different things will never be the same in every aspect
Event/Thing #1
Event/Thing #2
ANALOGICAL CONCLUSION
PREMISE
Keep in mind that all analogical arguments are limited. Since the point of the analogy is to draw a link between likenesses, arguments that use analogies focus on very specific aspects of the things or events used in the analogy. However, since an analogy concerns the likeness of two different things, it’s important to be aware of the obvious: different things will never be the same in every aspect.
Back to the chocolate and favorite song analogy, it’s also true that if you eat too much chocolate you’ll probably gain weight. However, no matter how much you listen to your favorite song, it probably won’t directly result in you gaining weight. It’s important to realize the limits of the analogy in order to determine whether or not the analogy makes a valid point.
Listening to your favorite song is very enjoyable
Listening to your favorite song too
will not cause weight gain
Differences
Similarities
Differences
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you…

8. within analogy-based inductive arguments
Limitations
Analogical Arguments
Analogical arguments mask the real issues by drawing false similarities between
two objects or events
TRUTH
ARGUMENTATION
Analogical arguments often serve as very powerful tools within argumentation. However, analogical arguments are often destructive towards the goal of truth because they can simultaneously serve to mask the real issues at hand by drawing false similarities between two objects or events. Be aware of the limits within analogy-based inductive arguments, both when you are listening to analogical arguments and constructing your own.
Be aware of the
within analogy-based inductive arguments
LIMITS

9. Presented by PMI Online