What fallacy occurs when two dissimilar situations are compared inappropriately?

The fallacy that occurs when two dissimilar situations are compared inappropriately is known as a false analogy. This particular fallacy arises when an argument is based on misleading, superficial, or implausible comparisons between two things that are not truly comparable in the relevant aspects.

In other words, a false analogy suggests that because two things share one characteristic, they are similar in all other relevant ways, which is not the case. For instance, if someone argues that since birds can fly and airplanes can fly, birds are just like airplanes in all aspects, that would be a false analogy. The essential nature and purposes of birds and airplanes are fundamentally different, making this comparison misleading.

Understanding this concept helps in critically evaluating arguments and identifying when reasoning may be flawed due to the inappropriate comparison of unlike situations.