The Inductive Argument from Analogy

Who created the Universe?

Some argue that because the Universe is like a clock, there must be a clock maker.

As David Hume pointed out: "This is a slippery argument because there is nothing that is really perfectly analogous to the Universe as a whole. Unless it's another universe. So we shouldn't try to pass off anything that is just a part of this Universe." Why a clock, anyhow? Why not say the Universe is analogous to a kangaroo? After all, both are organically interconnected systems but the kangaroo analogy would lead to a very different conclusion about the origin of the Universe. Namely - that it was born of another universe after that universe had sex with a third universe.

A fundamental problem with arguments from analogy is the assumption that because some aspects of A are similar to B other aspects of A are similar to B. Not necessarily so.

--- Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein