Reasoning - Abductive, Deductive, Inductive

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What is Deductive Reasoning?

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Deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning that starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. If the general statement is true, the conclusion must also be true.

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Example of Deductive Reasoning:

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All mammals have hearts. A dog is a mammal. Therefore, a dog has a heart.

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What is Inductive Reasoning?

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Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific observations or examples. It seeks to find patterns and make predictions, but the conclusions may not always be true.

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Example of Inductive Reasoning:

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The sun has risen in the east every day so far. Therefore, the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

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What is Abductive Reasoning?

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Abductive reasoning is a type of reasoning that starts with an incomplete set of observations and proceeds to the likeliest possible explanation. It is often used to form hypotheses.

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Example of Abductive Reasoning:

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The grass is wet. Therefore, it probably rained last night.

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Key characteristic of Deductive Reasoning:

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It guarantees the truth of the conclusion if the premises are true.

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Key characteristic of Inductive Reasoning:

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It provides probable conclusions based on patterns observed, but does not guarantee truth.

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Key characteristic of Abductive Reasoning:

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It seeks the best explanation for incomplete information, but the conclusion may not be correct.

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When to use Deductive Reasoning?

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Use deductive reasoning when you have a general rule and want to apply it to a specific case.