Categories and Analogies

Abstract

How do we recognize an utterance as an analogy? how do we decide, unconsciously and automatically, that it is a good strategy to try to take a certain equation between two noun phrases as expressing analogical connection, as opposed to expressing something else, such as class membership, identity, or implication? principles of recognizing an utterance as an analogy are influenced by and reflect principles of conceptual categorization. the approach we select to understanding a particular equation depends upon the relative locations of the two equated concepts in our category structures. given certain relative locations, we prefer to recognize analogy straightaway. various such phenomena are explained by the nature of the relationship between analogical and categorical connections. mentally, analogical and categorical connections between concepts are the same "kind" of connection; they differ in the "degree" to which they are conceptually entrenched.