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ERIC Number: ED193011
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1980-Jul
Pages: 102
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Structure of Analogical Models in Science.
Gentner, Dedre
Analogical models can be powerful aids to reasoning, as when light is explained in terms of water waves; or they can be misleading, as when chemical processes are thought of in terms of life processes such as putrefaction. This paper proposes a structural characterization of good science analogy using a theoretical approach in which complex metaphors and analogies are treated as structure-mappings between domains. To delineate good from poor science analogy, a series of comparisons is made. First, methaphor and analogy are contrasted with literal similarity; then, explanatory-predictive analogy is contrasted with expressive metaphor; finally, within science, good explanatory analogy is contrasted with poor explanatory analogy. Analogies of historical importance are analyzed and empirical findings are discussed. (Author/CS)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Naval Research, Washington, DC. Personnel and Training Branch.
Authoring Institution: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A