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Single Idea 13833

[from 'What is Logic?' by Ian Hacking, in 4. Formal Logic / B. Propositional Logic PL / 2. Tools of Propositional Logic / d. Basic theorems of PL ]

Full Idea

'Dilution' (or 'Thinning') provides an essential contrast between deductive and inductive reasoning; for the introduction of new premises may spoil an inductive inference.

Gist of Idea

'Thinning' ('dilution') is the key difference between deduction (which allows it) and induction

Source

Ian Hacking (What is Logic? [1979], §06.2)

Book Reference

'A Philosophical Companion to First-Order Logic', ed/tr. Hughes,R.I.G. [Hackett 1993], p.233


A Reaction

That is, inductive logic (if there is such a thing) is clearly non-monotonic, whereas classical inductive logic is monotonic.

Related Idea

Idea 13351 'Thinning' allows that if premisses entail a conclusion, then adding further premisses makes no difference [Bostock]