Inductive Logic

What?

Inductive Logic (IL) is a method of reasoning that equips you to use examples or evidence to reach general conclusions that are likely to be true.

Examples

Simple Examples

• Premise: The sun has risen every day since I’ve been alive.
  Conclusion: The sun will rise tomorrow.

• Premise: Every time we’ve eaten at restaurant X, the food and service have been excellent.
  Conclusion: Restaurant X is excellent.

Ohm’s Law

• Premise: Every time we test electrical circuits, we find that voltage, current, and resistance are related by the equation \[V = IR\].
  Conclusion: The equation \(V = IR\) must be true for any electrical circuit, not just the ones tested.

Big Idea

Most laws of science (conservation of energy, conservation of mass, Newton’s laws of motion, and so on) are based on inductive reasoning.

For example, in countless experiments, researcher found the energy work and heat were related by this equation \(\Delta E = Q - W\). They concluded that this equation, known as the law of conservation of energy must always be true.

Vacation Selection

• Premise: Every time we’ve vacationed near water, we felt relaxed and refreshed.
  
• Premise: Friends who visited Aruba said it was beautiful, safe, and fun.
  
• Premise: Online reviews consistently praise Aruba for its weather and beaches.
  
• Conclusion: Aruba will likely be an enjoyable place to vacation.

Courtroom Reasoning

• Premise: The defendant’s fingerprints were on the weapon.
  
• Premise: The defendant was seen near the scene around the time of the crime.
  
• Premise: The defendant had a motive and no strong alibi.
  
• Conclusion: The defendant likely committed the crime.