False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Media, Real Life, Politics, News & Ads

False Analogy Fallacy

What Is False Analogy Fallacy?

The false analogy fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when it is assumed that things which are alike in one way must also be alike in another. In other words, an argument or conclusion based on a faulty comparison of two items where the said items have at least one relevant dissimilarity.

The fallacy lies not necessarily in comparing two things but rather stating or implying that they are similar and, therefore, likely to share some common property.

The false analogy fallacy is one of many logical fallacies. It occurs when an argument draws a conclusion by comparing two things that are similar in some respects but not in others.

For example, the statement “The human body works just like a machine” is incorrect because there are many ways in which they differ.

False Analogy Fallacy Examples

False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Philosophy

Examples of False Analogy  Fallacy in Philosophy:

The false analogy fallacy is a logical fallacy in which an argument is based on an analogy that does not fit the situation.

For example, if someone were to say, “It’s like when you’re thirsty and cold drink water,” this would be a false analogy because drinking water and being thirsty are two different things.

This fallacy can also occur when people use analogies to try to prove somethings that are dissimilar.

Other Examples:

• The analogy of the sun and moon.
• The analogy of an acorn and a tree.
• The analogy of a watch and the universe

False Analogy Fallacy Real-Life Examples

False Analogy  Fallacy in Real Life:

Arguments based on false analogies:

• “I’m going to be a doctor, just like my dad.”
• “I’m not going to eat anything that’s green.”
•  “My car is better than yours because it has more horsepower.”

False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Media

Examples of False Analogy Fallacy in Media: 

A false analogy is a comparison of two things that are not alike in some way, usually involving the words “like” or “as.”

The following example contains a false analogy:

“The moon is like a balloon because they both have air inside them.”

This statement falsely equates the properties of objects with different qualities and functions.

Another example of a false analogy fallacy is when someone compares their life to an episode of Game Of Thrones by saying, “I’ve been through worse than this!” which does not make sense because they are comparing something personal to a fictional show about dragons and zombies.

Related: Argumentum Ad Baculum Examples 

False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Advertising

False Analogy  Fallacy in Advertising: 

An advertisement for an anti-aging cream that says, “You are only as old as you feel.”

Other Examples:

•  “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.”
•  “It’s a whole new ball game.”
•  “We’re the phone company that likes to say yes.”
•  “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
•  “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
•  “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

False Analogy Fallacy in Politics

Examples of False Analogy  Fallacy in Politics:

• “The government is like a family, and we all have to pull together.”
• “This political party is just like the other one.”
•  “We need to be tough on crime so that people will respect the law.”

False Analogy  Fallacy examples in Movies

Examples of False Analogy a Fallacy in Movies:

Arguments based on false analogies: arguments where two things are compared, and their similarities are exaggerated or distorted. Example;

• The argument that a particular movie is the best because it has the most awards.
•  The argument that one thing is better than another because of its name, e.g., “I’m going to buy this car, not that one.“

False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Literature

Examples of False Analogy Fallacy in Literature:

• 1. “The more I see of the world, the more am I convinced that God has made some men be a kind of spectacles to others.”
•  “It is not in our power to say what we will do, and if it were, we should seldom know what it is right for us to do.”
•  “I have been thinking about you so much lately–forgive me for my neglect!”
• “The sun is like a tomato.”
• “A car is like an egg.”

False Analogy Fallacy Examples in News

Examples of False Analogy  Fallacy in News:

• The argument that the U.S. should not have intervened in Syria because it did not intervene in Rwanda.
•  The argument that a woman can’t be president of the United States because she is not physically capable of carrying out some duties, such as military combat
• The argument that only men are qualified to serve on juries and decide whether or not a woman has been raped
•  “The president said that he was going to make America great again, but it seems like he’s just making the country worse.”
• “I don’t think we should be giving these people welfare because they are lazy and won’t get a job.”
• “We need to stop spending so much money on health care because there are more important things in life than our own well-being.”

Related:  False Dilemma Fallacy Examples