Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

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Inductive reasoning

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General conclusion from specific examples

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Deductive Reasoning

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Specific conclusion from general premises

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Example of deductive reasoning

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All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Therefore Joe is mortal.

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Example of Inductive Reasoning

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This cat is black. That cat is black. Therefore all cats are black.

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Limitation of deductive reasoning

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Never makes contact with the real world

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Key limitation of inductive reasoning

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Never approaches actual proof of a theory

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Premise in reasoning

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Statement assumed to be true

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Reasoning method that starts with a general principle

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Deductive reasoning

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Reasoning method starting with specific observations

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Inductive reasoning

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Main goal of inductive reasoning

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Derive general conclusion from specific data