Analogy vs example

nathanieljschwartz

So i think i have a pretty good understanding of the difference between an analogy and an example. But i ran across a question in LR that hinged on the difference [PT53.S3.Q24] and although i chose the correct answer i had to think for an extra few seconds about it. I wanted to ask if anyone could draw a binary cut between them. So i dont find myself second guessing again.

Eric25

Thank you for posting this because I thought I knew the difference between an analogy and example, but apparently i did not. I spoke with my friend about it for about 15 minutes and what we came up with is an analogy refers to a comparison of similar things used to simplify an argument. An example is a specific case centered around a persons argument. So, I look at the argument to see if it uses a different scenario to prove another scenarios conclusion (an analogy) or does it just look at a specific case of the argument to try to prove that conclusion? In this problem, the professor is comparing soda with other drinks, but their still just all drinks, so I took that as an example. The professor is not using drinks as an example to support another conclusion about food, for example. He's just saying this is the conclusion I believe to be true, here's an example using drinks. I hope this helps, I realized at the end of writing this I was more writing it out to solidify my own knowledge since it was clearly lacking.

cstrobel

An analogy is where the quality is similar, but the thing being analogized isn't part of the same group. I try to think if it as an explanatory metaphor or simile.
An example draws from the group (category, history, etc.) under discussion.
If the new thing referenced is a kind of the thing under discussion then it's an example.

Hope that helps

Cant Get Right

Analogy: Life is like a box of chocolates.

Example: You never know what you're going to get in life. Forrest, for example, didn't know he was going to become the captain of a shrimp boat.