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Full Idea
The argument from analogy is a weak one, because it does not logically guarantee the inference I draw to the other's inner states, for he might be dissimulating or acting, or may even be a cleverly contrived robot which feels nothing.
Gist of Idea
The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot
Source
A.C. Grayling (Wittgenstein [1988], Ch.3)
Book Ref
Grayling,A.C.: 'Wittgenstein' [OUP 2001], p.100
A Reaction
This gives the impression that for an argument to be strong it must logically guarantee its inference. It strikes me that analogy is a good reason for believing in other minds, but that is because I am looking for the best explanation, not logical proof.
| 3537 | I judge others' feeling by analogy with my body and behaviour [Mill] |
| 5379 | If we didn't know our own minds by introspection, we couldn't know that other people have minds [Russell] |
| 5663 | It is irresponsible to generalise from my own case of pain to other people's [Wittgenstein] |
| 19272 | To imagine another's pain by my own, I must imagine a pain I don't feel, by one I do feel [Wittgenstein] |
| 14644 | If my conception of pain derives from me, it is a contradiction to speak of another's pain [Malcolm] |
| 9282 | I can only apply consciousness predicates to myself if I can apply them to others [Strawson,P] |
| 15495 | Analogy works, as when we eat food which others seem to be relishing [Martin,CB] |
| 3457 | Other minds are not inferred by analogy, but are our best explanation [Searle] |
| 2757 | The argument from analogy rests on one instance alone [Dancy,J] |
| 2758 | You can't separate mind and behaviour, as the analogy argument attempts [Dancy,J] |
| 7091 | The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot [Grayling] |
| 3538 | Analogy to other minds is uncheckable, over-confident and chauvinistic [Maslin] |