False Analogy

The Fallacy

Assuming that because two things are alike in one or more respects, they are necessarily alike in some other respect.

Why it's wrong

Analogies are powerful tools for explanation, but they become fallacious when the differences between the two compared things are significant enough to invalidate the conclusion. If the similarities are superficial and the differences are fundamental, the argument fails.

Example

People who have to have a cup of coffee every morning before they can function have no right to tell an alcoholic he has a problem. After all, they're both addicted to a liquid.

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