Testing analogical proportions with Google using Kolmogorov information theory
Prade, Henri, Gilles Richard · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 2009
Analogical reasoning is considered as one of the main mechanisms underlying creativity. "Thinking out of the box" allows the paradigm shift essential to a creative process. More common is the concept of analogical proportion ("2 is to 4 as 4 is to 8") which can be described within an algebraic framework. When it comes to concepts ("engine is to the car as heart is to the human"), we need to investigate a new way to understand this analogical ratio. In this paper, we take inspiration from the formal framework of information theory for proposing a new approach to the evaluation of analogy between concepts. Using Kolmogorov complexity as a backbone providing a clear semantics, we give a practical interpretation for analogy between words viewed as labeling concepts. Making use of Google as a linguistic resource, we provide an implementation of our definitions: experiments show that the accuracy of our definition is quite acceptable and justify the approach. Copyright © 2009, Assocation for the Advancement of ArtdicaI Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.