Abstracts
Abstract
In making analogical arguments about actions, is more similarity between the source and target cases always better? No: all things considered, more similarity is not always better, even if the similarities are all relevant. The reason is that the context of the argument, including emotional considerations, modulates the selection of the source case to service the goals of the argument. If the goals of the argument include persuasion and even modifying someone’s emotional state, increasing the overall similarity between the source and target may be counterproductive.
Keywords:
- action,
- analogy,
- context,
- emotion,
- empathy,
- narrative,
- persuasion,
- practical reasoning,
- rhetoric,
- similarity
Résumé
En avançant des arguments analogiques sur les actions, une plus grande similitude entre les cas source et cible est-elle toujours meilleure? Non : tout bien considéré, plus de similitude n'est pas toujours mieux, même si les similitudes sont toutes pertinentes. La raison en est que le contexte de l'argument, y compris les considérations émotionnelles, module la sélection du cas source pour atteindre les objectifs de l'argument. Si les objectifs de l'argument incluent la persuasion et même la modification de l'état émotionnel de quelqu'un, augmenter la similitude globale entre la source et la cible peut être contre-productif.
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