an example of inductive reasoning:
a, b, c & d are observed to be true therefore a may be true.
(a is a reasonable explanation for b, c, & d being true).
ex:
p1: A large enough asteroid impact would create a very large crater and cause a severe impact winter that could drive the non-avian dinosaurs to extinction.
p2: We observe that there is a very large crater in the gulf of Mexico dating to very near the time of the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs
_____________________
c: Therefore it is possible that this impact could explain why the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct.
note: see that c is not necessarily the case, other events also coincide with the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.
remember: inductive reasoning is inherently uncertain. it only deals in degrees to which, given the premises, the conclusion is credible according to some theory of evidence.
2 comments:
This is actually rather helpful, thank you Professor. Hope to see more posts such as these as we transition through the course.
tx, miguel.
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