induction - A method of reasoning by which one infers a generalization from a series of instances. See abduction, deduction.

Inductive syllogisms are of the following form:

These beans are from this bag. (and these beans..., and these beans..., etc.)
These beans are (all) white.

Therefore, all beans from this bag are white.

In a much broader sense, induction can be thought to include various other forms of reasoning including analogical reasoning, inference to cause form symptoms, and confirmation of laws and theories.

Chris Eliasmith

References

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