Deductive
Deductive is an adjective that means relating to or provable by deduction. Deduction is a process
of reasoning that involves drawing a conclusion from one or more factual statements, or
premises. The conclusion is valid if it logically follows from the premises, meaning that it's
impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false.
Deductive reasoning is also known as deductive logic, and it's used in both academia and
everyday life. It's also a fundamental part of mathematics and computer programming.
Here are some examples of deductive reasoning:
All cats have claws
If you know that all cats have claws, and you know that Loki is a cat, you can deduce that Loki
has claws.
Deductive Inference:
This type of inference is considered the most certain, as it guarantees a true conclusion if the
premises are true. It follows a "top-down" approach, applying known rules or principles to reach
a specific conclusion.
Example: "All dogs have four legs. Fido is a dog. Therefore, Fido has four legs."
Inductive Inference:
This type of inference involves making a generalization based on observed patterns or data,
leading to a conclusion that is likely but not guaranteed to be true. It moves from specific
observations to a broader statement.
Example: "Every crow I've seen is black. Therefore, all crows are black."
Abductive Inference:
This type of inference aims to find the "best explanation" for a set of observations, often
involving proposing a hypothesis that best accounts for the evidence.
Example: "The lights are off in the house, and the car is gone. Therefore, the owner is probably
not home."
Key points to remember:
Certainty:
Deductive inferences are considered the most certain, while inductive and abductive inferences
are less certain.
Direction of reasoning:
Deductive reasoning moves from general to specific, while inductive reasoning moves from
specific to general.
Application:
Deductive reasoning is often used in mathematics and logic, while inductive reasoning is more
common in scientific research and everyday observations
Inductive reasoning and abductive reasoning are both probabilistic forms of inference, but they
differ in how the premises relate to the conclusion:
Inductive reasoning: Uses evidence in the premises to justify the conclusion. Inductive
reasoning starts with specific observations and moves to a general conclusion that may be
true. Inductive arguments are not logically watertight, but they can provide insights and
support for the conclusion.
Abductive reasoning: Uses the conclusion to explain the evidence in the premises.
