INDUCTIVE
REASONING
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INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT FROM
ANALOGY
• Analogy: comparison of things based on similarities.
• Argument from analogy: an argument that suggests that the
presence of certain similarities is evidence for further
similarities.
• Common form:
X and Y both have properties p, q, r (and so forth)
X has feature F
Therefore, Y has feature F
• Example:
(P1) Linh and Ha are sisters, are about the same age, go to
the same high school, and like reading novels.
(P2) Linh likes “Gone with the wind”.
(premise analogue) (attribute of interest)
(C) Therefore, Ha likes “Gone with the wind”.
(conclusion-analogue)
Evaluate the arguments:
Linh, Ha are sisters.
Linh likes the novel “Gone with the wind”.
Therefore, Ha likes “Gone with the wind”.
Linh, Ha are sisters, are about the same age.
Linh likes the novel “Gone with the wind”.
Therefore, Ha likes “Gone with the wind”.
Evaluate the arguments:
Linh, Phuong and Ha are sisters, are about the same age, go to
the same high school, and like reading novels.
Linh and Phuong like “Gone with the wind”.
Therefore, Ha likes “Gone with the wind”.
Linh is good at mathematics.
Therefore, Linh will learn statistics well.
• Saccharin causes cancer in rats, and rats are like humans,
biologically speaking. So saccharin will cause cancer in
humans, too.
• Premise an: rats
• Conclusion an: human
• Attribute of interest: saccharin causing cancer
• Simmilarities: biological similarities
Why rats are used in medical trials?
• Most of the mice and rats used in medical trials are inbred so they are
almost identical genetically helping to make the results of medical
trials more uniform. Another reason they're used as models in
medical testing is that their genetic, biological and behavior
characteristics closely resemble those of humans
INDUCTIVE GENERALIZING (arguing
from the specific (sample) to the
general (population))
• Generalization: statement made about all or most members of a
group
• Inductive generalization: inductive argument that relies on
characteristics of a sample (a portion of the population) to make a
claim about the population as a whole
• Form
Such and such percent of observed Xs are Yz
Therefore the relevant percentage of all Xs are Ys
• Example 1
80% of surveyed BA students like to learn Chinese as second
foreign languages.
Therefore, most of BA students like to learn Chinese as second
foreign languages.
I like all the subjects I’ve learnt so far.
Therefore, I will like all of this program’s subjects.
The statistical syllogism (from
general to specific)
• Statistical argument: take generalization and draw conclusion about a smaller
samples of the population (usually individuals)
• Form
Most Xs are Ys
This is an Xs
Therefore, this is a Y
(The strength of the argument depends on the percentage of Xs that are Ys)
• Example
Most BA students are critical.
Linh is a member of BA class.
Therefore, Linh is critical.
Causal statements and their support
• Forming Causal Hypothesis (3 principles for…)
-Paired unusual events principle
-Common variable principle
-Covariation principle
• Weighing evidence
