Are Scientific Analogies Metaphors?

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to provide a structural characterization of analogy in science, contrasting good science analogies with literary metaphors and with poorer examples of science analogies. The paper first presents a theoretical approach in which complex metaphors and analogies are treated as structure-mappings between domains. Within this framework, metaphor and analogy are contrasted with literal similarity. Then, a set of distinguishing structural characteristics is proposed and applied in a series of comparisons. To illustrate the points, analogies of historical importance are analyzed. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA096679

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  • Dedre Gentner

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