We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
A Material Theory of Induction.
- Authors
Norton, John D.
- Abstract
Contrary to formal theories of induction, I argue that there are no universal inductive inference schemas. The inductive inferences of science are grounded in matters of fact that hold only in particular domains, so that all inductive inference is local. Some are so localized as to defy familiar characterization. Since inductive inference schemas are underwritten by facts, we can assess and control the inductive risk taken in an induction by investigating the warrant for its underwriting facts. In learning more facts, we extend our inductive reach by supplying more localized inductive inference schemes. Since a material theory no longer separates the factual and schematic parts of an induction, it proves not to be vulnerable to Hume’s problem of the justification of induction.
- Subjects
INDUCTION (Logic); DEFAULT reasoning; MATERIALISM; SYLLOGISM
- Publication
Philosophy of Science, 2003, Vol 70, Issue 4, p647
- ISSN
0031-8248
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1086/378858