Comparing random concepts together

Can we compare any random concepts? Let’s try doing it with two objects.

CarPencil
moves (with human intervention)doesn’t move
fastslow
largesmall
dangerous in multiple waysrelatively safe object
boxylong
large and heavyskinny
sort of portableportable
solid and stableeasily broken
mostly metalnon-metals

How are they similar:

  • man made tools
  • enhance human life fundamentally ( fast movement and amplifying thought)
  • requires precise hand control
  • could be used as devices to hurt others
  • could be used as devices to help others (as an ambulance or write a recommendation letter)

They seem to have more differences than similarities. They both share a similarity that is of great importance, both have had fundamental changes on human life.

Can I compare an abstract concept with an object? How about a cup vs “courage”

CupCourage
hard materialhard to have
everyday objectinfrequently seen
concreteabstract
touchmental feeling
contains liquidsovercome fears

It was hard to compare a cup with courage, but there are aspects to contrast and compare. Both act as a type of barrier. A cup acts as a physical barrier to contain liquids while courage acts as a barrier to keep fear away.

How about comparing 2 abstract concepts. Lets try “homework” and “enemy”

homeworkenemy
sometimes painfulnegative feeling
org/schoolperson
a process or objectobject(usually a person)
usually hate, some people like italways negative

It was difficult to compare homework with an enemy.

I wrote this up as an exercise to think about how the mind may look at different concepts. I think I learned that while many seemingly unrelated concepts can be compared, many can’t be compared. I wonder how a word2vec or other type of machine learning model would compare these concepts.

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