PT91.S4.Q4: Argument by analogy?

Ashley2018-1

Is the comparison between the logicians and doctors an analogy or only a comparison? What is the problem with the comparison/analogy?

Could a Sage help? Thanks

maxjab00

I would say that this is a direct comparison, and the flaw is that it is an improper comparison. In short, the argument says that since we mostly agree that a doctor can still be a good doctor even though he is unhealthy, we can also accept that logician is illogical.

This is an improper comparison because a logician's logical skill is much more necessary for them than a doctor's personal health.

This is why answer choice A is correct. It points out how much more necessary logic is to a logician than personal health is to a doctor.

Maybe another example would help clarify. Many financial planners are not billionaires. However, we don't worry about that, so we should also not worry about plumbers who are unable to fix pipes. Again, this an unfair comparison. You can still be a good financial planner without being a billionaire. You can still organize others people's money very well, but not be filthy rich yourself. However, if a plumber can't work on pipes, then that is like 80% of the job that they can't do, and thus are a garbage plumber.

In short, not all job <-> personal qualities relationships are equal, so you can't compare them all equally.

Ashley2018-1

@maxjab00 said:
I would say that this is a direct comparison, and the flaw is that it is an improper comparison. In short, the argument says that since we mostly agree that a doctor can still be a good doctor even though he is unhealthy, we can also accept that logician is illogical.

This is an improper comparison because a logician's logical skill is much more necessary for them than a doctor's personal health.

This is why answer choice A is correct. It points out how much more necessary logic is to a logician than personal health is to a doctor.

Maybe another example would help clarify. Many financial planners are not billionaires. However, we don't worry about that, so we should also not worry about plumbers who are unable to fix pipes. Again, this an unfair comparison. You can still be a good financial planner without being a billionaire. You can still organize others people's money very well, but not be filthy rich yourself. However, if a plumber can't work on pipes, then that is like 80% of the job that they can't do, and thus are a garbage plumber.

In short, not all job <-> personal qualities relationships are equal, so you can't compare them all equally.

I’m getting analogies and comparisons confused. Is the first sentence a principle? Does that make the last two things examples? It does start off with for instance.