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7 Types of Analogy

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An analogy is a thought process or expression that transfers meaning from one subject to another. It is considered a basic cognitive process. For example, humans tend to understand a new thing but comparing it to a familiar thing.
Analogies are commonly used to simplify complex or obscure ideas by drawing lines to simple and familiar concepts. In this capacity they may be used to make decisions, learn and solve problems. Analogies also have potential to make communication clear, memorable and persuasive. The following are common types of analogy:

Metaphors

Suggesting that two unrelated things are the same for rhetorical effect. The effect generated by a metaphor may provide clarity or be designed to persuade. Metaphors are also a common tool of humor and may be used to make language more colorful, interesting and memorable. Example: Time is a thief.

Dead Metaphor

A dead metaphor is an overused metaphor that no longer generates much of an effect because it has become a figure of speech. Example: Falling in love.

Mixed Metaphor

A mixed metaphor is a sentence that jams two metaphors together, often without completing both. Example: "If we can hit that bull's-eye then the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... Checkmate." ~ Zapp Brannigan, Futurama

Allegories

Allegories are extended metaphors that keep their true subject secret. Commonly found in art, literature and film. The term allegory implies complexity and it's common for an entire book or series of books to be considered an allegory. Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Comparisons

Straightforward comparisons can be considered an analogy if they are intended to transfer meaning from one thing to the next. Example: A heart is a pump.

Similes

A simile is like a metaphor except that it uses more explicit language to define the comparison such as the word "like." Example: That is like comparing apples and oranges.

Exemplification

Something typical or representative of a class or type. That grass is more green than green.

Thinking

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Abductive Reasoning
Abstract Thinking
Abstraction
Aesthetics
Analogy
Analysis Paralysis
Analytical Thinking
Anomie
Argument
Argument From Silence
Arrow Of Time
Assertions
Automaticity
Backward Induction
Base Rate Fallacy
Benefit Of Doubt
Big Picture
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Call To Action
Catch 22
Causality
Choice Architecture
Circular Reasoning
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Cognitive Abilities
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Complexity Bias
Concept
Consciousness
Constructive Criticism
Convergent Thinking
Counterfactual Thinking
Creative Tension
Creeping Normality
Critical Thinking
Culture
Curse Of Knowledge
Decision Fatigue
Decision Framing
Decision Making
Defensive Pessimism
Design Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Educated Guess
Emotional Intelligence
Epic Meaning
Essential Complexity
Excluded Middle
Failure Of Imagination
Fallacies
Fallacy Fallacy
False Analogy
False Balance
False Dichotomy
False Equivalence
First Principles
Formal Logic
Four Causes
Fuzzy Logic
Gambler's Fallacy
Generalization
Golden Hammer
Good Judgement
Grey Area
Groupthink
Heuristics
Hindsight Bias
Hope
Idealism
Ideas
If-By-Whiskey
Illogical Success
Imagination
Independent Thinking
Inductive Reasoning
Inference
Influencing
Informal Logic
Information
Information Cascade
Introspection
Intuition
Inventive Step
Learning
Lifestyle
Logic
Logical Argument
Logical Thinking
Ludic Fallacy
Magical Thinking
Meaning
Mental Experiences
Mental State
Mindset
Misuse of Statistics
Motivated Reasoning
Natural Language
Nirvana Fallacy
Norms
Not Even Wrong
Objective Reason
Objectivity
Opinion
Overthinking
Perception
Personal Values
Perspective
Positive Thinking
Practical Thinking
Pragmatism
Premise
Problem Solving
Proof By Example
Propositional Logic
Prosecutor's Fallacy
Radical Chic
Rational Thought
Realism
Reality
Reason
Reasoning
Red Herring
Reflective Thinking
Reification
Relativism
Salience
Scarcity Mindset
Scientism
Selective Attention
Serendipity
Situational Awareness
Sour Grapes
State Of Mind
Storytelling
Subjectivity
Systems Thinking
Thinking
Thought Experiment
Unknown Unknowns
Visual Thinking
Want To Believe
Whataboutism
Win-Win Thinking
Wishful Thinking
Worldview
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