The flawed reasoning that because two distinct entities share a single, often superficial, action or trait, they are therefore equivalent in all important aspects. It crushes nuance and context to force a false identity. This is the tool of lazy smears and reductive arguments, used to guilt-by-analogy or glorify-by-analogy without engaging with the actual substance of either X or Z.
Example: "The Nazi regime built highways and promoted national fitness. The current government is building highways and promoting national fitness. Therefore, the current government is Nazi." This Fallacy of Analogy by Association ignores the vast, fundamental differences in ideology, context, and ultimate goals, focusing on one narrow point of similarity to make a monstrous comparison.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
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