Good analogy, bad analogy

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Tuesday June 14, 2011 · 4:08 PM PDT

2011/06/14 · 16:08

People employ analogies in arguments all the time--sometimes well and sometimes badly. Two of the worst analogies I've seen recently involved comparing 'getting pregnant from rape' to 'getting a flat tire' and 'being subject to higher income taxes' to 'getting raped'. Yikes.

On the other hand, two of the very best arguments by analogy that I've ever seen involved comparing a human fetus to a concert violinist and Irish infants to suckling pigs.

This diary is about argument by analogy--the form of the argument, the ways it can be employed, and the process of evaluating it. This time, in honor (?) of the atrocious right-wing thinking (?) on rape, we'll visit a beautiful and powerful argument by analogy that everyone should know and take time to ridicule one of the worst.

Philosoraptor

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Thursday May 05, 2011 · 3:27 PM PDT

2011/05/05 · 15:27

Financial questions are something of a taboo, I know, but we're good friends, right? Besides, we talk about politics and religion all the time, and we're still cordial with one another.

So if you don't mind my asking, what's your net worth?

Philosoraptor

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Wednesday May 04, 2011 · 10:34 PM PDT

2011/05/04 · 22:34

Many of the Facebookers among you will recognize a new meme that is occupying status updates this week. Disappointed by the degree of credit that President Obama is receiving for the death of Osama bin Laden, some of our less thoughtful friends are updating their status like this:

Let's be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American soldier, who Obama just a few weeks ago was debating on whether or not to PAY, did!! Obama just happened to be the one in office when our soldiers finally found OBL and took him out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!! REPOST IF YOU AGREE!!

There are many things that could be criticized about this statement. I want to focus on one fallacy of reasoning that is committed here and an appropriate reply to it.

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Good analogy, bad analogy

What is your net worth?

Better thinking through philosophy: Did Obama kill bin Laden?