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Single Idea 22200

[from 'The Sign of Four' by Arthur Conan Doyle, in 14. Science / C. Induction / 1. Induction ]

Full Idea

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Gist of Idea

If you eliminate the impossible, the truth will remain, even if it is weird

Source

Arthur Conan Doyle (The Sign of Four [1890], Ch. 6)


A Reaction

A beautiful statement, by Sherlock Holmes, of Eliminative Induction. It is obviously not true, of course. Many options may still face you after you have eliminated what is actually impossible.