Scientific Reasoning: a Solution to the Problem of Induction
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International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:10 No:03 49 Scientific Reasoning: A Solution to the Problem of Induction Wilayat Khan and Habib Ullah COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, 47040, Wah Cantt, PAKISTAN Abstract— reasoning is an important part of many fields like computer scientist for long period, one may become a logic, artificial intelligence, philosophy of science, and so on. computer scientist or engineer, for example, but not, of course, Reasoning can either be deductive (deduction) or it can be a medical doctor. Induction and deduction are one of the inductive (induction). The decisions based on induction are very attractive areas of different fields like artificial intelligence, helpful in research but some times they produce uncertain and logic and philosophy of science. The problem of induction is unreliable results upon which no reliable decision can be made. among one of the problems being faced which needs This is known as the problem of induction. In this paper, after concentrative studies. Before going deeper into this problem, giving deep introduction of induction and deduction, we explain we need to define and explain deduction and induction. views of different scholars about the problem. These scholars, unfortunately, do not agree at a single point. At the end of this II. DEDUCTION discussion, we come up with a solution to the problem and Deductive reasoning or deduction consists of arguments conclude it. In our solution, we disagree with the strict decision where if the premises are assumed to be true, then it is of either to accept or reject induction. Instead, we are in favor to impossible for the conclusion to be false. Using deduction, deal induction in a probable manner. there is a formulation of specific conclusion from a general truth [1, 2]. For example: Index Term— Scientific reasoning, induction, deduction, problem of induction All the teachers in COMSATS are good researchers; Mr. Anwar is a teacher. I. INTRODUCTION Reasoning or argumentation is a process to look for Therefore reasons. Reasoning uses arguments which are sets of statements or propositions each consists of premises and Mr. Anwar is a good researcher. conclusion. Conclusions are derived from the statements (premises). Reasoning can either be deductive (deduction) or it The conclusion drawn using deduction is reliable. One can can be inductive (induction). In an argument, for the trust the truth of result (truth preserving). In the example assumption that the premises is true and it is impossible that above, if we assume the premises that “all the teachers in the conclusion is false, the argument is deductive, but if the COMSATS are good researcher“ and “Mr. Anwar is a truth of conclusion is probable then it is inductive argument. researcher“ true, then the conclusion drawn “Mr. Anwar is a One can believe the conclusion if the premises are justified and good researcher“ based on the premises is always true. It is there is a proper connection between the premises and impossible for this conclusion to be false (assuming the conclusion of the argument [1]. The connection between the premises is true). conclusion and the premises is very important, because, Conclusions are derived from a new idea – an anticipation, a otherwise, the reasoning will lead us to a false conclusion. For hypothesis, or a theoretical system, using logical deduction. example, if we say: These derived conclusions are compared in themselves and with other statements (if there are any other relevant Mr. Anwar, a computer scientist, has been teaching us statements). A logical relation like whether they are equivalent computer science for the last two years. to each other (equivalence), compatible with each other or not (compatibility or incompatibility) and so on, is found. Therefore A theory can be tested either by logical comparison of the We will become medical doctors. conclusions with each other, investigating the logical form of the theory (to find out whether it is empirical or scientific), This does not make sense, because being student of a comparing it with other theories or by testing the theory using the way of empirical applications of the conclusions derived from it. The last test finds out how far the new results or 105303-9595 IJBAS-IJENS © June 2010 IJENS I J E N S International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:10 No:03 50 consequences derived from the theory fulfill the demands of particular or individual. But the conclusion is not certain. The practice, no matter whether they are raised by scientific result above may be false. There may be illiterate people in experiments or by practical technological applications. The COMSATS. It can be certain if, by some means, the statement procedure of testing theory by this way is deductive. Some „there is at least one illiterate person in COMSATS‟ is proved singular statements or predictions are deduced from the theory false. This is a proof by falsification [5]. Weak induction, on with the help of other previously accepted statements. The the other hand, induce conclusion from the premise, but it is statements which are not derivable from that theory and which not the correct one. There is no proper link between the are contradicted by the theory are selected. Now these and premise and the conclusion. Like: other derived statements are compared with the results of practical applications and experiments and a decision is made. I always put the book on table. If the singular conclusions are verified, that is if they are acceptable, then currently the theory has passed its test. But Therefore on the other hand if the conclusions are falsified then the theory from which those conclusions were drawn, is also All the books are on the table. falsified [4]. You may be in the library studying the Philosophy of III. INDUCTION Science book and then you put it on the table after reading it. As defined in [2, 3, 4], inductive reasoning or induction is Based on this premise, you draw a conclusion that all the the process of reasoning in which it is believed that the books are on the table just because you have put the book on premises of an argument support the truth of conclusion, but table. This will lead to generalization based on the certainty of they don‟t ensure its truth. It is true even for a good argument, premise. This conclusion will be wrong. This does not make where it is quite possible that there will be false conclusion sense to link the conclusion with the premise. The link between even if the premise is true. An inference is said to be inductive the two is very weak. If we use our knowledge from other inference if it passes from singular statements to universal sources, we can see that the conclusion drawn is wrong. There statements or theories. That is to say that induction leads from is no guarantee that all other students put their books on the specific truth to general truth (knowledge expanding). table in the library after reading. They might return the book to Inductive inferences that we draw from true premises are not the librarian, who put the books in the book boxes in the 100% reliable, because they may take us to the false result from library, or the students borrow the books and put it in their true premises. Induction takes individual instances and based bags (instead on table), or they put the book on table outside on those instances, some generalization is made. For example: the library, and so on. Only you put the book on the table but most of the books are already in the vertical cupboards of the Students A, B, and C in the library read. library, some are with students for reading, and so on. The conclusions drawn by this way are actually Based on the above premise, a general conclusion is drawn overgeneralizations [3]. as following. Scientific laws and theories are actually universal generalization which surpasses the finite number of All the students in the library read. observations and experiments, on which the theory is based, by a great margin. These theories are confirmed by evidence Many scholars, historically, like David Hume, Karl Popper using induction. This confirmation makes these scientific and David Miller have discouraged inductive reasoning. They theories reliable, trustworthy and justifies our belief on have rejected and disputed its existence. theories. If there was no inductive confirmation, science would Inductive reasoning has been divided in two categories be just like a „blind guess‟. Induction leads to creative based on the strength of its effect; strong induction and weak inference where new theories are formulated from the evidence induction [3]. In strong induction the truth of a premise would (logic of discovery). After the new theories are formulated, make the truth of a conclusion probable, but not confirmed. In then induction does confirmation by connecting evidence to other words, the truth of a premise can make the conclusion those theories (logic of justification). more likely to be true, but it can‟t guarantee its 100% truth. Although inductive reasoning exists everywhere in science Consider the argument: but it is philosophically controversial. There are problems to describe the general principles to follow in inductive reasoning All observed people in COSMATS are literate. (problem of describing) and to justify the inferences or Therefore conclusions (problem of induction) [6]. IV. THE PROBLEM OF INDUCTION All people in COMSATS are literate. As we mentioned earlier that induction leads to universal or Here we actually induce the general or the universe from the 105303-9595 IJBAS-IJENS © June 2010 IJENS I J E N S International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:10 No:03 51 general truth from specific truth.