Story Similarity in Arguments from Analogy

• Main Author: Douglas Walton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Windsor 2012-06-01
• Series: Informal Logic
• Subjects: argumentation schemes; scripts; evidential support
• Online Access: https://informallogic.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/3159

In this paper a hybrid model of argument from analogy is presented that combines argumentation schemes and story schemes. One premise of the argumentation scheme for argument from analogy in the model claims that one case is similar to another. Story schemes are abstract representations of stories (narratives, explanations) based on common knowledge about how sequences of actions and events we are familiar with can normally be expected to unfold. Story schemes are used (a) to model similarity between two cases, and (2) as the basis of evidence to support the similarity premise of an argument from analogy. Four examples of argument from analogy are used to test the theory.