Inductivism
Created @May 3, 2022 3:03 PM
Class
Type
Materials
Reviewed
Basic principle (observable) → Explanation of principle → move up in complexity
Problems with Inductivism
Naive Inductivism
History of science suggests that scientists didnt use inductivist method (EG: newton
declared himself an inductivist - not obvious in his work)
Requires distinction between observation statements and theoretical statemnts (not
always clear)
Puzzles of confirmation - how, why, when and to what degree does observational
evidence count in favour of theoretical generalisation
Inductivism 1
, Relations of ideas vs. Matters of fact
Anythong that we can think about - Object of Understanding
Relations of ideas
intuitively certain or deductively demonstrable
propositions discoverable by thinking, don’t require experience
Things you know without experience
Their contrary implies a logical contradicition and cannot be concieved
Eg: 1+1=2, all bachelors are unmarried
Matters of fact:
Affirmations that are not intutively or demonstratively certain
Their contrary doesn’t imply a contradiction and can be concieved
Eg: the sun will rise tomorrow, an unsupported object wwill rise
Inductivism 2
Created @May 3, 2022 3:03 PM
Class
Type
Materials
Reviewed
Basic principle (observable) → Explanation of principle → move up in complexity
Problems with Inductivism
Naive Inductivism
History of science suggests that scientists didnt use inductivist method (EG: newton
declared himself an inductivist - not obvious in his work)
Requires distinction between observation statements and theoretical statemnts (not
always clear)
Puzzles of confirmation - how, why, when and to what degree does observational
evidence count in favour of theoretical generalisation
Inductivism 1
, Relations of ideas vs. Matters of fact
Anythong that we can think about - Object of Understanding
Relations of ideas
intuitively certain or deductively demonstrable
propositions discoverable by thinking, don’t require experience
Things you know without experience
Their contrary implies a logical contradicition and cannot be concieved
Eg: 1+1=2, all bachelors are unmarried
Matters of fact:
Affirmations that are not intutively or demonstratively certain
Their contrary doesn’t imply a contradiction and can be concieved
Eg: the sun will rise tomorrow, an unsupported object wwill rise
Inductivism 2
