Relating to or based on analogical reasoning; characterized by the use of analogy to draw conclusions.
From 'analogism' + '-ic' (adjective suffix). This adjective form developed in 19th-century philosophical and scientific discourse to describe reasoning methods that rely on analogy.
Scientific breakthroughs sometimes come from analogistic thinking—Johannes Kepler realized planets orbit the sun like iron shavings around a magnet by thinking analogistically. But analogistic reasoning also spawned some terrible ideas, like applying plant biology directly to human society (social Darwinism).
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