Analogy as integrating framework for human-level reasoning

Abstract

Human-level reasoning is manifold and comprises a wide variety of different reasoning mechanisms. So far, artificial intelligence has focused mainly on using the classical approaches deduction, induction, and abduction to enable machines with reasoning capabilities. However, the approaches are limited and do not reflect the mental, cognitive process of human reasoning very well. We contend that analogical reasoning is the driving force behind human thinking and therefore propose analogy as an integrating framework for the variety of human-level reasoning mechanisms. © 2008 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.