Faulty/False Analogy (Speaking Metaphorically or Hypothetically)

When you rely on comparisons to prove a point instead of simply making the point with relevant material, you risk using a false/faulty analogy.  In a false/faulty analogy, it is argued that one situation is similar to another situation in at least one respect; therefore, it must be similar in another or all respects.  By nature, most analogies are faulty as they cannot represent the argument better than the argument can represent itself.  An analogy, even a very close one, can never prove anything conclusively. They have some value, but not conclusive value.

Some things to keep in mind when presented with an analogy are:

• The most an analogy can do is clarify an idea by comparing ideas that are unfamiliar to ideas that are familiar.

• A common fault in thinking is inferring a further degree of resemblance from an observed degree.

• Do not ever accept an analogy in lieu of proof.

• Always ask yourself what the differences are when an analogy is presented. Do those differences matter?

Example:

Think what you will about Daylight Savings Time, but it isn't a blanket.

Example: Declawing a cat is "the equivalent of cutting a person's fingers off at the first knuckle." Right?

No. No it's not.

Example: Cliff Barackman from Finding Bigfoot:

INTERVIEWER: "You've never seen a Bigfoot despite years in the field.  Does this ever make you question their existence?"

CLIFF: "...I'm not the sort of person that has to see one to believe one.  After all, I've never seen an atom, giant squid, or Miles Davis, and I'm pretty sure all of those things are real."

Cliff is making a faulty analogy by implying that not spotting a Sasquatch is no different than not seeing an atom, giant squid, or Miles Davis.  Atoms can be seen through an electron microscope, giant squid have been recorded using clear underwater footage (not to mention several dead samples have washed ashore), and there is plenty of RELIABLE footage of Miles Davis performing... not to mention his albums can be purchased on iTunes.  If we really wanted to, we could exhume his grave.  All of these can be proven to exist or to have existed... no such proof exists regarding Bigfoot.  

Another thing Cliff is misappropriating is where the burden of proof lies.  When someone says, "Hey, I saw a Sasquatch!" is it that persons job (aka: burden of proof) to prove what he/she has seen or is it our job (aka: burden of proof) to prove that Sasquatch do not exist?  In this case, the burden of proof lies with the person claiming that he/she has seen a Sasquatch.  Cliff is trying to transfer the burden of proof back onto the viewers of Finding Bigfoot when it should stay with him.

Example: We should not submit to gun control. Cars kill way more people than guns, so why don't we ban them?

True. In the U.S. more people die from car crashes than from gun violence. With that said, if the debate is about gun control, cars really have nothing to do with it. Cars are not guns. They have very different uses, get used way more often by more people, and have different benefits. If someone wants to debate the risk/benefit of cars, that's fine; however, that is a different argument than the one at hand, which is the debate on whether gun control is a good choice or not. Also, the argument above employs a straw-man fallacy, too. Can you spot it?

Example: Our education system . . .

As much as I appreciate the sentiments of this cartoon, our education system educates American students to survive in an American/global society that has certain professional expectations.  We are not crows, monkeys, penguins, elephants, goldfish, seals, and dogs. We are all people, and we all live in this society.  Don't get me wrong, the sentiments of this cartoon are not necessarily without merit, but this limited analogy succeeds only in getting attention to the idea of differentiated instruction--It would not hold water in a real, focused debate between academics concerning that concept.

Example: Check out THESE examples from Texas State University

Example: Monty Python's The Life of Brian:

What weighs more, a witch or a duck?

This is more funny than useful; however, the series of analogies used to come to a crazy conclusion are, in fact, faulty.  Very, very, very faulty.