Week 12 Question 3

3). Pick one concept or idea from the assigned reading, that we have not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it

I thought that the outline of how to evaluate an analogy was really helpful. There are several steps to evaluating an analogy. Some include questioning of the analogy is an argument, and if the analogy is an argument then what is the conclusion. Another step to evaluating an analogy is to figure out what the comparison is within the analogy. Another step includes figuring out what the premises of the analogy on one or both sides of the comparison are. This then leads to questioning what the similarities in the analogy are, and if there are similarities determining a premise that makes up a general principle that covers both sides of the comparison. The next step would be to really deciding if the general principle can be used to cover both sides of the comparison and if the differences matter. The next and final step to evaluating an analogy is to determine if the argument is strong, valid, or good.