CHAPTER XX. 

 OF ANALOGY. 



] . THE word Analogy, as the name of a mode 

 , of reasoning, is generally taken for some kind of 

 argument supposed to be of an inductive nature, but 

 not amounting to a complete induction. There is no 

 word, however, which is used more loosely, or in a 

 greater variety of senses than Analogy. It sometimes 

 stands for arguments which may be examples of the 

 most rigid Induction. Archbishop Whately, for in- 

 stance, following Ferguson and other writers, defines 

 Analogy conformably to its primitive acceptation, that 

 which was given to it by mathematicians, Resem- 

 blance of Relations. In this sense, when a country 

 which has sent out colonies is termed the mother 

 country, the expression is analogical, signifying that 

 the colonies of a country stand in the same relation to 

 her in which children stand to their parents. And if 

 any inference be drawn from this resemblance of rela- 

 tions, as, for instance, that the same obedience or 

 affection is due from colonies to the mother country 

 which is due from children to a parent, this is called 

 reasoning by analogy. Or if it be argued that a 

 nation is most beneficially governed by an assembly 

 elected by the people, from the admitted fact that 

 other associations for a common purpose, such as 

 joint stock companies, are best managed by a com- 

 mittee chosen by the parties interested ; this is an 

 argument from analogy in Archbishop Whately's sense, 

 because its foundation is not, that a nation is like a 

 joint stock company, or Parliament like a board of 



