Analogies are weak forms of arguments. They cannot be used to convince one who is out rightly against the very foundations of the belief. It only works on people who are more or less able to accept the foundational concepts behind the belief, and an analogy can help to make it easier to understand, or more interesting to read. It also helps people notice something they would not usually notice. With the ability to categorise, analogies are powerful tools in helping people understand the idea behind many concepts with just a study of one sample that this analogy applies to.

For example, by using the analogy of colliding balls on gas particles, physicists are able to make many useful predictions and manipulations of gases. Even though gas molecules are not exactly like colliding balls, this analogy helps to enforce understanding in physics of gases for people who already have some knowledge on the physics of collisions.

Another example would be the flow of water from a hole at the bottom of a bucket. The rate of flow is determined by the amount of water still in the bucket, and the rate of flow determines how fast the water flows out. On closer analysis, the amount of water in the bucket decreases exponentially with time. By analogy, the discharging of a capacitor is like the flow of charge out of the plates, and the rate of flow is determined by the amount of charge remaining in the capacitor. From the analysis of the flow of water out of a leaky bucket, one can more easily understand the discharging of a capacitor, without needing to work with a capacitor.

From here, I shall attempt to use analogy to find out more about myself. It is difficult to find out about myself by myself. By the study of other objects by other people, I hope to be able to understand myself better.

Before I can use analogy, there must be certain similarities between me and the object I’ll draw parallel to. I would try something that is already quite well understood: electricity.

1. I am motivated by joy or expectation of joy and the prospect to being able to avoid pain, and I act in this direction. (Charge distribution?)

2. This motivation encourages me to act in certain ways. In the process I achieve other objectives that may or may not benefit me. (Work done?)

3. While I am motivated to do certain things, I cannot do all of them, because of external factors. (Resistance?)

4. When I do not have what I want, or I am currently suffering, I feel the need to do something. (Positive potential?)

5. When I have a goal in sight, the goal is at a state of less suffering and more joy than the current state. (Lower potential?)

6. I would only be motivated to do something if I do not reach my goal yet. (No Potential difference = No Work done?)

This looks like nonsense so far. But with the amount of understanding people have about electricity, if a working analogy can be made between electronic circuits and me, there would be so much for me to learn about myself. Exciting.