Single Idea 8624

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

Full Idea

Induction depends on the general proposition that the inductive method can establish the truth of a law, or the probability for it. If we deny this, induction becomes nothing more than a psychological phenomenon.

Gist of Idea

Induction is merely psychological, with a principle that it can actually establish laws

Source

Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884], §03 n)

Book Reference

Frege,Gottlob: 'The Foundations of Arithmetic (Austin)', ed/tr. Austin,J.L. [Blackwell 1980], p.4


A Reaction

The problem is that we can't seem to 'establish' the requisite proposition, even for probability, since probability is in part subjective. I think induction needs the premiss that nature has underlying uniformity, which we then tease out by observation.