Analogiearbeit

Analogiearbeit, a German term, translates to "analogy work" or "working with analogies." It refers to a cognitive process and a method used in various fields, particularly in problem-solving, learning, and creativity. At its core, analogy work involves identifying similarities between two or more situations, concepts, or systems that are superficially different. The goal is to leverage knowledge or understanding from a known domain (the source) to shed light on or solve a problem in an unfamiliar domain (the target).

This process typically involves several steps. First, one must identify or retrieve a suitable source domain that shares relevant structural or functional properties with the target domain. Second, a mapping is established between the elements and relationships of the source and target domains. This mapping allows for the transfer of knowledge, principles, or solutions from the source to the target. Finally, the transferred information is elaborated, adapted, or applied to the specific context of the target domain.

Analogiearbeit is a fundamental aspect of human cognition, contributing to our ability to learn from experience, make predictions, and generate new ideas. In education, it is employed to make complex concepts more accessible by relating them to familiar ones. In scientific research and engineering, it is a powerful tool for innovation, allowing researchers to draw inspiration from existing solutions in different fields or to develop new theories based on established models. It is also a key technique in creative writing, design thinking, and therapy.