C-CS

analogy
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Working Definition:

An analogy implies a similarity in some respects between things, persons, or events otherwise unlike.

[If the overall pattern is similar when comparing something or someone (primary analogue) with something or someone else (secondary analogue ), the two things or persons can be linked together conceptually by their resemblence to each other. However, when the differences are focal as they are juxtaposed, the secondary analogue is seen a new light because of its differences with the primary analogue to which it is compared. At the same time, when their similarities are focal, the known thing or person (primary analogue or prototype) provides "clues" about the behavior of the thing or person less known (secondary analogue or analog). See "comments."]

Disciplinary Definitions:

cognitive linguistics

See Langacker, Foundations of Cognitive Grammar on "comparing." Foundations, 101 For Langacker a comparison is the ability to match a "standard" to a "target" and the points of similarity can be considered a "schema."

cognitive science

"The organizing frames in two spaces are analogous when there is a more abstract frame that applies to both of them. In that case, Analogy connects the organizing frames of the two spaces. For example, there is an Analogy mapping between the frame of a boxing match and the frame of a cockfight. [para] An orgnaizing frame in one space can be connected globally to vlaues for its roles in another space though a bundle of Role vital relations . . . Fauconnier & Turner, The Way We Think, 2002, 106

cognitive psychology

"Several authors argue strongly that analogies provide excellent, widely applicable method for solving problems. That is, if you're confronted with a difficult problem, a useful heuristic is to find a similar or related situation, and build an analogy from it to the current problem." Ashcraft, Fundamentals of Cognition 98, 394.

"Reasoning by analogy is a complex kind of problem solving in which relationships in one situation are mapped onto antoher in order to solve a problem." Ashcraft, Fundamentals of Cognition 98, 399.

philosophy

Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Simon Blackburn

defines analogy as "a respect in which one thing is similar to another. The analogical extension of terms is the waiting in which the term covers similar things: people, bottles, and rivers have mouths. Shops, boxes, verdicts, ports, strings of a violin, questions, roads, and books may all the open, but in analogical senses. Analogy butts upon literal meaning, but also upon metaphor, and thus forms a perplexing phenomenon in the philosophy of language. Arguing by analogy is arguing that since things are alike in some ways, they will probably be alike in others."

NOTE: In the Cambridge Dictionary Of Philosophy, the only entry for analogy is "analogical argument." No definition is given and the reader is asked to see "philosophy of religion."

Quine, W.V. & J.S. Ullian, Web of Belief

"Some analogies that we use are notoriously weak. Perhaps a person hears a new voice and, noticing that the voice resembles that of an old friend, speculates that the voice's owner will be like thte old friend in other significant ways. Such an analogy is shadowy, but we all tend at times to build on analogies that are no better. When a feature of a newly encountered person or object strikes a familiar chord it is often fairly instinctive to project to the new person or object what experience has associated with that feature." (59)

A Dictionary of Philosophy, Anthony Flew

"Likeness or similarity. The positive analogy between the two terms of a comparison -- their likenesses -- may be contrasted with the negative -- their unlikenesses. Argument by analogy infers that, because this is like that in some respects, this and that must therefore be similar also in others"

Comments:

After reading Langacker on comparing (101) and schema in categorizing (369), I believe that I need to consider three terms. For Langacker a comparison is the ability to match a "standard" to a "target" and the points of similarity can be considered a "schema." In thinking about configuring, I can suggest: a past configuration, configuration type, and present configuration. Considering that the process is a form of analogizing, then protolog, analog, and log. This translates to:

protolog: the general schematic of a complex situation in memory drawn from past experiences
log: the expression of the schematic as a schema (structure)
analog: the incidents of experiences that fit the schema.

Notes

ana = ratio, hence a ratio of similarity amidst differences [??]

Check:

Fouconnier: Mapping and Mental Spaces.

jjs

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