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Single Idea 15695

[from 'The Essential Child' by Susan A. Gelman, in 14. Science / C. Induction / 3. Limits of Induction ]

Full Idea

Because of their narrow focus, children's sensitivity to categories as the basis of induction is a reasoning bias that, though useful much of the time, results in systematic errors.

Gist of Idea

Children make errors in induction by focusing too much on categories

Source

Susan A. Gelman (The Essential Child [2003], 06 'The role')

Book Reference

Gelman,Susan A.: 'The Essential Child' [OUP 2005], p.150


A Reaction

This is the bad sense of 'essentialism' which worries its opponents. Presumably, though, my favoured scientific essentialism will be 'scientific', and avoid this problem. The relation between categories and induction needs to be clear.