Summary
Summary Chapter 2 of Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction
- Course
- Institution
- Book
Summary of Chapter 2: Scientific Inference from Philosophy of Science: A Very Small Introduction by Samir Okasha
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Summary of "Philosophy of Science: a very short introduction" by Samir Okasha 9780198745587
-
Samenvatting Philosophy of Science, ISBN: 9780198745587 Philosophy Of Science And Ethics (GEO2-2142)
-
Neurosciences year 2 - Neurophilosophy and Ethics (AM_1018) - summary lectures and Okasha book
Seller
Followsachajacobs
Reviews received
Content preview
Deduction and InductionDeductive interference → If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true
too. The premises of the interference entail the conclusion. What makes the
interference deductive is the existence of an appropriate relation between premises
and conclusion, namely that the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the
conclusion. Example:
All Frenchmen like red wine → premises of interference
Pierre is a Frenchmen → premises of interference
Therefore, Pierre likes red wine → conclusion
Inductive interference → the premises do not entail the conclusion. In a typical
inductive interference, we move from premises about objects that we have
examined to conclusions about objets of the same sort that we haven't examined.
Example:
The first five eggs in the box were good
All the eggs have the same best-before date stamped on them
Therefore, the sixth egg will be good too
Deductive interference is safer than inductive interference. Inductive reasoning is capable of
taking us form true premises to a false conclusion. In our daily life, we seem to rely on inductive
reasoning. Scientists use inductive reasoning whenever they move from limited data to a more
general conclusion, which they do all the time. Researchers often use the word proof whenever
they have found something. Because inductive interference is used in most cases, scientific
hypotheses can rarely if ever be proved true by the data. The word 'proof' should strictly only be
used when we are dealing with deductive interference.
Popper argued that scientists need to use deductive inferences only. His argument was:
although a scientific theory can never be proved true by a finite amount of data, it can be proved
false, or refuted. If scientists were trying to refute their theory, rather than establish its truth, their
goal would be accomplished without the use of induction. The goal of science is not solely to
refute theories, but also to determine which theories are true. The collection of scientific data is
aimed at showing that a particular theory is false. Additionally, they are trying to convince
people that their theory is true. Poper's attempt to show that science can get by without
induction does not succeed.
Hume's problem
Over time, we have justified some faith in inductive reasoning, like we always assume the sun
will rise in the morning. David Hume (1711-1776) argued that the use of induction cannot be
justified at all. Hume admitted that we use induction all the time, but insisted that this was a
matter of brute animal habit. If challenged to provide a good reason for using induction, we can
give no satisfactory answer.
Whenever we make inductive inferences, we seem to presuppose what Hume called the
'uniformity of nature'. The uniformity of nature assumes that objects we haven't examined will
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sachajacobs. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.53. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
83662 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now