Induction (philosophy)

:This article is about induction in philosophy and logic. Inductive reasoning is the complement of deductive reasoning. For other article subjects named induction see induction.

Related Topics:
Deductive - Induction

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Induction or inductive reasoning, sometimes called inductive logic, is the process of reasoning in which the premises of an argument support the conclusion, but do not ensure it. It is to ascribe properties or relations to types based on limited observations of particular tokens; or to formulate laws based on limited observations of recurring phenomenal patterns. Induction is used, for example, in using

Related Topics:
Reasoning - Properties or relations - Types - Law - Phenomenal

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specific propositions such as:

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• The ice is cold.
• A billiard ball moves when struck with a cue.

to infer general propositions such as:

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• All ice is cold. or: There is no ice in the Sun.
• For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action.
 
Induction (philosophy): Validity ►