Analogical thinking- week 7

This week we learned about analogical thinking. An analogical argument is an explicit representation of a form of analogical reasoning that cites accepted similarities between two systems to support the conclusion that some further similarity exists. Analogical thinking consists of three things, which are similes, metaphors and analogies.

Similes is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. For example, “cute as a kitten,” comparing the way someone looks to the way a kitten looks, “as busy as a bee” comparing someone’s level of energy to a fast-flying bee.

Metaphor is a figure of speech that identifies something as being the same as some unrelated thing for rhetorical effect, thus highlighting the similarities between the two.  For example, the snow is a white blanket, the hospital was a refrigerator.

Similes and metaphors were thought to us at primary school, analogies on the other hand was something new for me. Analogical thinking is slightly more complex than similes and metaphors. There are four different ways of analogical thinking.

First way of thinking is personal analogy. It is when a person feels like they are different person or object.  It allows a person to transport themselves to another space or object. For example, put yourself in the shoes of a pencil. As a simple pencil, I would proud to be an instrument that helps ‘humans’ write, but I hate it when time goes instead of growing, I shrink.

 The second way of analogical thinking is direct analogy. Direct Analogy allows a person to compare two concepts or objects directly. It allows a person to see ideas and problems from a new perspective. Hence, it helps them develop more creative ideas to solve problems. For example, relating a book with a picture.

The third way of analogical thinking is symbolic analogy. Symbolic analogy is used to compare with an abstract principle, it allows people to see the similarity between two things (using symbolism). For example, how the water system is similar to a tree’s water system; or on the other hand, in literature, In William Blake’s “Ah Sunflower”, the sunflower represents people and the sun represents life.

Lastly there is fantasy analogy. This is where most of a person’s imagination is applied, it breaks boundaries and allows a person to have a board and open mind set. For example, the hoverboard we have today, was once just a fantasy; now the next question or idea is ‘if we can hover trains, why can’t we hover building?’

Analogical thinking is a good skill to practice. It may not be useful all the time, but there is no harm just thinking in that manner. I meant what are not losing anything but on the other hand, we can increase our brain capacity.