Restructuring,Reminding and Repair: What's Missing from Models of Anology

Abstract

Models of analogy developed to date fail to consider all the stages of analogical reasoning required for an effective model. Further, much emphasis is placed on the structural, syntactic nature of analogy. We describe a seven stage model of analogy, and discuss four means of determining analogical similarity. In this context we review two prevalent and contrasting analogical approaches, and conclude by offering suggestions that alleviate some of the problems currently faced, in the form of a new model for analogy which takes into account all seven stages and four similarity constraints. An example (Duncker's radiation problem) is used to highlight deficiences with current models and describe the new model.