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19387 | Hypotheses come from induction, which is comparison of experiences |
Full Idea: We construct a hypothesis on the basis of an induction, that is on the basis of a comparison of experiences. | |||
From: Gottfried Leibniz (Elements of Law and Justice [1669], p.2) | |||
A reaction: This fits the traditional positivist picture of science (observe-hypothesise-predict-observe). I like the definition of induction as 'comparison of experiences', because it doesn't reduce it to sequences of objects, and points to coherence. |