Reasoning by Analogy

There are seven different types of reasoning posted on the instructor’s blog. The forms of reasoning are:

1). Reasoning by Analogy
2). Sign Reasoning
3). Causal Reasoning
4). Reasoning by Criteria
5). Reasoning by Example
6). Inductive
7). Deductive

Reasoning by analogy is “is the cognitive process of looking for reasons, beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings”( Kirwin 748). Epstein defines reasoning by analogy “a comparison becomes reasoning by analogy when it is part of an argument: on one side of the comparison we draw a conclusion, so on the other side we should conclude the same.

An example of reasoning by analogy is prop. 19, which is a proposal that wanted to make marijuana legal in California. Since alcohol is legal, why can marijuana be legal?

Sign of reasoning is “Argument by sign asserts that two or more things are so closely related that the presence or absence of one indicates the presence or absence of the other” (speaking.pitt.edu).

An example is, the sun is setting is a sign that it is night.

Causal relationship reasoning is “where the occurrence of one (the cause) is supposed to bring about or produce an occurrence of the other (the effect)” (philosophypages.com).

EX: Global warming is getting worse because icebergs are melting and sea levels are rising.

Reasoning by Criteria- Reasoning by Example- it is like a comparison

Example: My nails are purple like plums.  

Criteria reasoning

"Start by defining the criteria by which the outcome of a decision will be judged, and then identify the best decision, given these constraints." (changingminds.org)

Exemplar reasoning

Exemplar reasoning is the use of examples in argument. The example may be told as a story or may be a short comparator. It may be a duplicate of the situation or may be a relatively distant metaphor.(changingminds.org)

Inductive reasoning, “also known as induction or inductive logic, or educated guess in colloquial English, is a kind of reasoning that draws generalized conclusions from a finite collection of specific observations” (Wikipedia).

Ex: I stop at a red light because it is the law; therefore, everyone has to stop at a red light.

Deductive

Deductive reasoning, “also called deductive logic, is reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments” (Wikipedia).

All X are Y (premise)
All Y are Z (premise)
Hence, all X are Z (conclusion)

Ex: Everyone in my English class is failing the course. Jackie is failing the course. Therefore, Jackie is in my English class.