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Single Idea 3709

[filed under theme 14. Science / C. Induction / 2. Aims of Induction ]

Full Idea

Inductive explanations must be conceived of as something stronger than mere Humean constant conjunction; …anything less than this will not explain why the inductive evidence occurred in the first place.

Gist of Idea

Induction must go beyond the evidence, in order to explain why the evidence occurred

Source

Laurence Bonjour (In Defence of Pure Reason [1998], §7.7)

Book Ref

Bonjour,Laurence: 'In Defense of Pure Reason' [CUP 1998], p.214


The 14 ideas with the same theme [possible targets for inductive thinking]:

We learn universals from many particulars [Aristotle]
Science is based on induction, for general truths about fire, rhubarb and magnets [Buridan]
Hypotheses come from induction, which is comparison of experiences [Leibniz]
We assume similar secret powers behind similar experiences, such as the nourishment of bread [Hume]
'Induction' doesn't capture Greek 'epagoge', which is singulars in a mass producing the general [Peirce]
Induction is inferring premises from consequences [Russell]
Induction accepts the simplest law that fits our experiences [Wittgenstein]
The induction problem is to prove generalisations about the future based on the past [Ayer]
Induction passes from particular facts to other particulars, or to general laws, non-deductively [Ayer]
More careful inductions gradually lead to the hypothetico-deductive method [Quine]
Induction is an attempt to increase the coherence of our explanations [Harman]
Induction is just reasonable methods of inferring the unobserved from the observed [Lewis]
Induction must go beyond the evidence, in order to explain why the evidence occurred [Bonjour]
Induction is inference to the best explanation, where the explanation is a law [Bird]