Is analogy or metaphor the root of thinking? Some thinkers think so. But what exactly is analogy?
Looking at various lists of analogies of the A:B::C:D motif, I have distilled them into four groups: Relational, Hierarchical, Linguistical, and Mathematical. Are there analogies that don’t fit this scheme?
Relational
Object / characteristic
Order, sequence
Transformation
Agent / object, action
Function, purpose
Cause / effect
Source / product
Hierarchical
Classification, category, type, membership
Whole / part
General / specific
Linguistical
Meaning, definition
Synonym, antonym
Contrast, degree, intensity
Word parts
Expressions
Mathematical
Equivalence
Multiples
Negation
Patterns, geometries
Number
Size, magnitude
Direction, vectors
Spacial, temporal
Ratio, proportion
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy
http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/surfaces-and-essences-analogy-fuel-and-fire-thinking
Currently Reading:
George Lakoff, Mark Johnson / Metaphors We Live By
To Read:
Douglas Hofstadter, Emmanuel Sander / Surfaces and Essences: analogy as the fuel and fire of thinking, Basic Books (2013)
Noah Roderick / The Being of Analogy, Open Humanities Press (2016)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functor
[*9.140, *9.141, *9.178]
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