Analogy detection - Analogy construction: An approach to similarity in higher order reasoning

Similarity is central in analogical reasoning. In order to describe the role of similarity for analogy detection as well as for analogy construction we have to differentiate types of analogical inferences and types of conceptual analogies. We distinguish object-concept analogies from analogies using event-concepts or event-sequences. For these types the role of similarity for the detection and construction of analogies is discussed. Subsequently, three experiments concerning analogical reasoning with event-concepts are described. In the Ist experiment the relational structure of event-concepts is investigated with the aim of using it for similarity determination. In the 2nd experiment different conceptual and structural components for the similarity prediction of event-concepts are investigated. The 3rd Experiment concerns the process of analogy construction. The role of specific semantic relations for the construction process and different construction strategies are described.