Journal article
D. Gentner
1980
1980
Semantic Scholar
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APA
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Gentner, D. (1980). The Structure of Analogical Models in Science.
Chicago/Turabian
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Gentner, D. “The Structure of Analogical Models in Science.” (1980).
MLA
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Gentner, D. The Structure of Analogical Models in Science. 1980.
BibTeX Click to copy
@article{d1980a,
title = {The Structure of Analogical Models in Science.},
year = {1980},
author = {Gentner, D.}
}
Abstract
Abstract : 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, metaphor 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)