The fallacy, or false analogy, is an argument based on false, above, or irrefutable comparisons. It is known as negative analogy, weak comparisons, negative comparisons, metaphors such as arguments and deceptive similarities.
Analogues are often used for demonstration purposes to make a complex process or concept easier to understand. Analogues becomes false or misleading when they are overused or presented as complete evidence.
Examples of False Analogy Fallacies
- “A watch is a complex and precise device that is designed by an intelligent watchmaker. Similarly, the universe is an extremely complex system, and thus must be the product of intelligent design.”
This is a false analogy because the conclusion is falsely drawn from the comparison between a watch and the universe.
- Cars cause many more deaths than firearms do, so if we are going to ban firearms, we should also ban cars.
- Many addictions, such as drug addiction or alcoholism, causes many people to destroy their health and eventually ruin their life. Thus, getting addicted to your phone will ruin your life.
- Telephones and bananas are shaped similarly, both fitting well to our hands. Therefore, just like the telephones have a designer, bananas must have a designer too.
False Analogy Fallacy Examples in Politics
Politicians use many logical lies to entice the public. These myths often enter into political discourse, using emotional complaints as arguments. Here are some examples of false positives that limit citizen choice.
- Vote for me or live through four more years of higher taxes.
- America: Love it or leave it.
- Donate to my campaign if you care about the future.
- If you want our country to be safe, we must increase military spending.
False Analogy Fallacy in Product Advertising
Most ads use a lot of logical errors for one reason: they work. When people are afraid of being unpopular or unloved, they are more likely to fall into the trap of false stories. Read these examples of the ways in which companies use false positives to sell something. Many of these messages are shown, if not specifically mentioned.
- If you don’t use our beauty products, you’ll never look youthful.
- You can look cool in our clothes, or you can look like a loser.
- Do you want to drink our beer or our competitor’s unhealthy, watered-down beer?
- Subscribe to our streaming service or be stuck with cable.
False Analogy Fallacy in Movies
Much of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban revolves around Sirius Black, the first wizard in known history to escape the prison of Azkaban.
- Shown as a menacing murderer focused on hunting down the one responsible for his imprisonment, the audience is led to believe Black is the villain of the story.
- Similar assumptions are shared by many in the wizarding world and fears of Sirius Black are seemingly confirmed in various conversations with Professor McGonagall, Mr. Weasley, and others.
Towards the end of the film though, we learn Sirius is actually an ally and has been framed for murder. The real villain is Peter Pettigrew
Inception is a movie which constantly leads the audience on.
- The final scene of the movie is ambiguous, making it unclear whether Cobb is living in the real world or simply in a dream.
- In reality, the totem falls over and in dreams it spins forever. Cobb doesn’t stay to see the result and simply joins his kids in the garden.
Christopher Nolan doesn’t shed light on this either, insisting that the reality or lack thereof of Cobb’s reunion with his kids isn’t what matters. Rather, Cobb’s ability to stop caring about what’s reality or not is. In its own way, this in itself is a red herring, disallowing viewers to ever truly understand the movie’s meaning and Cobb’s fate.