TFY. ch. 11 Inductive Reasoning and Inductive Fallacies

Inductive reasoning in some sense is similar to inference making. Both methods are used to connect the dots or to fill in missing facts. Inductive reasoning is a method used to discover new information or to supply missing information. Inductive reasoning is an open-ended method of learning and discovering. It is not a trial and error process or a hit or miss. It has its own rules for arriving at the most reliable answers. Though the empirical or scientific method, you observe, gather data, then draw inferences about the patterns, configurations, and meanings. Findings are then recorded and reported. Several methods are mentioned in this chapter by the author that have traditionally been used to learn about the whole from a study of its parts. These methods include sensory observation, enumeration, analogical reasoning, pattern recognition, causal reasoning and statistical reasoning. Hypotheses can also be used to explain and predict phenomena. A hypothesis can be used to further an investigation in an inductive study. Finally, the conclusion of an inductive study generalizes to produce a universal claim based on empirical findings. The study may or may not confirm the hypothesis tested, but the conclusion remains probable rather than completely certain because further evidence could come to light that challenges its findings. One set of professionals that use inductive reasoning constantly, on a daily basis are police officers and detectives. A couple of weeks ago when Sandra Kantu, disappeared from her home in Tracy, CA several FBI agents flew in to assist with the investigation. These agents were not from the town, they didn’t know the residents, they had no prior knowledge of the girl or her family prior to the investigation. Through the scientific method they observed, gather data, and drew inferences. Within a couple a weeks they found Sandra’s body and made an arrest. If there wasn’t such a method as inductive reason who knows if they would have ever found out what happened to her. In my opinion this is a highly valuable method to be learned and utilized for many different purposes.