Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
When it comes to defining the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning, people tend to get confused. Though both construct a premise to a conclusion, the main distinction is:
1. Inductive reasoning: Goes from specific instances to more generalized ones.
2. Deductive reasoning: Clearly is the opposite hence shifting from generalized principles to more specific ones
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Examples
Deductive reasoning: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Inductive reasoning: I exist. I am a human. Rocks exist. Therefore rocks are humans.
Connections to other classes
Last year in my math class, we were learning about logarithmic functions. At some point, my teacher explained how you cannot cancel out a logarithm since it is a function. Nonetheless, this year in my physics class my teacher taught us about derivatives. At some point on the board, he cancelled out the derivative functions. This caught my attention, and I made a connection towards my math class; I used my memory to recall seeing functions canceling out then I reasoned how we were taught not to. Because of this, the logic that popped into my head was: Functions cannot be cancelled out. Logarithms are functions which cannot be cancelled out. Derivatives are functions hence they too shouldn't be cancelled out. This clearly is a form of deductive reasoning since it goes from general terms, in this case functions, to how derivates are functions that shouldn't be cancelled out. I later asked my teacher and he explained the reasoning behind it.
Real life Situation in the Theory of Knowledge course
During class, we played a game called crazy captains. Essentially, the captains choose a rule and people begin guessing random items. If these items fall into that category, the captain will respond yes, if they do not, they will respond no. Furthermore, the students were not allowed to repeat words since it wouldn't lead to a result of finding the pattern within the rule. Therefore, a student was a captain and his rule was shades of yellow in plural. People began saying random ideas such as pencil, myself, mr. Krabs etc. Then came the deciphering; the first guesses for the rule was just fruits with a yellow shade. Then it was solely items with a yellow shade. Then after people began utilizing the plurals more, the realization appeared. This clearly is an example of deductive reasoning since the game started on general terms and then it became more specific when people began guessing the rule.
This connects to the ways of knowing such as:
1. Reasoning- the partipants had to decipher a pattern thus utilizing reasoning to achieve the right knowledge of the game.
2. Memory- Since we were not allowed to repeat words, nor would it be productive in terms of attempting to find the pattern, memory was reinforced to proceed with deciphering the rule.
3. Imagination- Once reasoning kicked in, the students were required to use their imagination to find other objects that correlate to the rule to see if what they've interpreted is correct.
4. Language- Language was used to communicate and see if their train of thoughts was leading towards the correct pattern.
This video talks about the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning and uses examples such as Dr. Seuss and his opinion towards cats.
