It is a logical fallacy and it occurs when someone incorrectly asserts that two or more things are equal because they share some characteristics, regardless of the notable differences between them.For example, saying that cats and dogs are the same type of animal because they're both mammals and have a tail.

False equivalence

If you’re unsure about whether an equivalence that you’re thinking about is reasonable or not, try to highlight the differences between the things that you’re equating, and ask yourself whether the equivalence still holds.

Avoiding false equivalences

It happens when there are two or more opposing positions on a certain topic, and you assume that the truth must rest somewhere in the middle. False balance can be a result of a false equivalence when two sides are presented as being equal, and the terms are used interchangeably, even though they are not.For instance, in a group interview, equal weight is given to the opinions of two opposing interviewees, one of whom is an established expert, and the other a false authority with no valid credentials.

False balance fallacy

<ul><li>The equivalence exaggerates the degree of similarity. I.e, stating that two people share a specific personality trait, but ignoring that they differ in other aspects of this trait.</li><li>The equivalence exaggerates the importance of the similarity. I.e, focusing on a personality trait that two people share while ignoring that many other people also share this trait.</li><li>The equivalence ignores important differences. </li><li>The equivalence ignores differences in orders of magnitude. </li></ul>

The problem with false equivalence

<ul><li>Show that the similarities between the things being equated are exaggerated, overemphasized, or oversimplified.</li><li>Highlight the differences between the things being equated. </li><li>Explain why these differences are more significant than related similarities.</li><li>Provide counterexamples.</li><li>Ask your opponent to justify why they believe that their equivalence is valid, and then demonstrate the issues with the reasoning they provide.</li></ul>

Responding to a false equivalence

<ul><li>Not every comparison is an equivalence; it’s possible to compare things without suggesting that they are equal to one another.</li><li>Not every equivalence is false and can even be reasonable.</li><li>Not every false equivalence is intentional.</li><li>Equivalence is subjective; it’s not always possible to clearly determine whether a specific equivalence is false or not.</li></ul>

Comparisons and equivalence

False equivalence is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone incorrectly asserts that two or more things are equivalent, simply because they share some characteristics, despite the fact that there are also notable differences between them. For example, a false equivalence is saying that cats and dogs are the same animal, since they're both mammals and have a tail.