30 Examples of False Analogy

A false analogy it is a comparison between two terms, which is fallacious because it is reasoning that seems valid but is not really. For instance: Mario and Sofía know how to drive, Sofía drives very well; therefore, Mario drives very well.

A analogy It is the comparison between two things that are similar or that have a characteristic that relates them. The logical reasoning that is used in this type of resources is A is similar to B, A has the characteristic P, then B also has the characteristic P.

For instance: A cell phone has an operating system, a computer has an operating system, with a computer very complex problems can be solved; therefore, with a cell phone, very complex problems can be solved.

But if those two things that are compared present differences, that is, that A and B are not really similar, the reasoning logic is absurd and a false analogy occurs, since B does not have the same characteristics as A (B does not have the characteristic P).

For instance: A computer works with electricity, a blender works with electricity, with a computer very complex problems can be solved; therefore, with a blender, very complex problems can be solved.

Examples of false analogy

1. My neighbor's name is María, Juan's neighbor's name is María, my neighbor has a dog; therefore, Juan's neighbor also has a dog. (However, the fact that the two people are named Maria and are neighbors of someone is not reason enough to conclude that they both have a dog.)
2. A computer processes information, a brain processes information, a computer has outputs and inputs; therefore, a brain has outputs and inputs. (However, a computer and a brain do not process information in the same way or have the same functions.)
3. Earth has an atmosphere, Venus has an atmosphere, on Earth human beings can breathe; therefore, on Venus human beings can breathe. (However, the atmosphere of Venus is different from the atmosphere of Earth, so people cannot breathe the air of Venus.)
4. The gazelle is a mammal, the whale is a mammal, the gazelle has four legs; therefore, the whale has four legs. (However, mammals are not always the same with respect to morphological characteristics).
5. Sadness is like rain, it can last for a long time, but at some point it stops. (However, sadness and rain are different phenomena, sadness is a feeling, and rain is a meteorological phenomenon).
6. A country is like an anthill, if everyone does their job well, nothing falls apart. (However, a country and an anthill do not work the same.)
7. The Earth is like an electron in that it revolves around something. (Although the Earth revolves around the Sun, the motion is not the same as the motion of the electron.)
8. Life is like the field, you reap what you sow. (However, life and the country differ greatly.)
9. A dog is like a wolf, both are canids and get along well with humans. (However, the dog is domesticated and the wolf is not.)
10. A company is like a building, if the foundations are not right, what was built collapses. (However, a business and a building are not constructed or function the same.)
11. In the newspapers there is news, in social networks there is news, the news of the newspapers is reliable; therefore, the news from social networks is reliable. (However, the way that news is produced is different and the information is not always reliable.)
12. Jimena and Ricardo studied at the same university, Jimena is a very good professional; therefore, Ricardo is a very good professional. (However, just because they have both studied at the same university does not guarantee that they are both good professionals.)
13. A society is like a clock; if each part works well, the whole works well. (However, the clock is a machine and society is made up of men and women with different stories, values ​​and experiences, which alter its operation).
14. A president is like a king; They are authority figures who guide the direction of a territory. (However, the president is usually democratically elected and the king receives the title from him by inheritance, which makes a huge difference between the two roles).
15. A plate of food is like a symphony; if there is harmony, it will be of good quality. (However, a plate of food and a symphony are very different elements and are also perceived by different senses).
16. Professor Fernández, who took the Physics I exam, will also take the Physics II exam, I passed the Physics I exam; therefore, I will pass the Physics II exam. (However, the fact that the teacher is the same in the two exams does not guarantee that the person can pass the Physics II exam).
17. A thermometer is a measuring instrument, a ruler is a measuring instrument, a thermometer has mercury; therefore, a ruler also has mercury. (Although the two objects are measuring instruments, only the thermometer has mercury.)
18. Jasmines are plants, ferns are plants, jasmines have flowers; therefore, ferns have flowers. (However, there are plants, such as ferns, that do not have flowers.)
19. Yellow is a light color, pink is a light color, yellow is a primary color; therefore, pink is a primary color. (However, pink is not a primary color.)
20. Politics is like chess; whoever moves his pieces well, wins the game. (However, politics and chess do not work in the same way or with the same rules.)
21. Literature is like cinema, in both there is always a story and characters. (However, literature and cinema are very different, the first is written and the second is audiovisual).
22. Sergio paints very well, Fernando paints very well, Sergio draws very well; therefore, Fernando draws very well. (However, that both can paint very well does not mean that both can draw very well.)
23. This movie is science fiction, the other movie is science fiction, I really liked the first movie; therefore, the other movie will like me. (However, the fact that both movies are science fiction does not guarantee that the person will like them.)
24. A truck is a means of transport, a car is a means of transport, a truck supports 7000 kilos of cargo; therefore, a car supports 7000 kilos of cargo. (However, although both are means of transport, they have different characteristics.)
25. The economy is like the sea; at times it is stable and at times it is chaotic. (However, the economy and the sea have very different characteristics).
26. Metals are materials found in nature, wood is a material found in nature, metals are electrical conductors; therefore, wood is a good electrical conductor. (However, wood is not an electrical conductor, it is an insulating material. Therefore, the fact that both materials are found in nature is not a sufficient reason to establish the analogy).
27. Javier prepares very good salads, Sonia prepares very good salads, Javier makes very delicious desserts; therefore, Sonia prepares very rich desserts. (However, just because you both make good salads doesn't guarantee that you both make very rich desserts.)
28. Daniela plays soccer very well, Darío plays soccer very well, Daniela plays basketball very well; therefore, Darío plays basketball very well. (However, just because they both play soccer very well does not guarantee that Darío plays basketball well.)
29. A book is like a door; once you open it, you know something different from what you saw every day. (However, books and doors are not comparable because they are not similar and the knowledge that each can provide is very different.)
30. Gasoline is derived from petroleum, plastic is derived from petroleum, gasoline is used as fuel; therefore, plastic is used as fuel. (However, that both are derived from oil is not a sufficient characteristic to establish an analogy.)

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