Single Idea 16940

[catalogued under 14. Science / C. Induction / 1. Induction]

Full Idea

Induction is essentially only more of the same: animal expectation or habit formation.

Gist of Idea

Induction is just more of the same: animal expectations

Source

Willard Quine (Natural Kinds [1969], p.125)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ontological Relativity and Other Essays' [Columbia 1969], p.125


A Reaction

My working definition of induction is 'learning from experience', but that doesn't disagree with Quine. Lipton has a richer account of different types of induction. Quine's point is that it rests on resemblance.