The purpose of this discussion post will be to take a look at deductive and inductive
reasoning. In what ways are they similar, in what ways are they different, and which of the
methods of reason is best suited for establishing cause and effect relationships.
The similarities
The similarity between the two form is that they are both forms of logical reasoning in the
search for truth. Both methods will look at information and will extrapolate an answer from
that information.
Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning can be described as a method of using specific observations to arrive at a
general conclusion (Avissar et al., 2013). The problem with inductive reasoning is that the
conclusion might be logically true, but that does not mean that it will be factually true (Don't
Memorise, 2019).
Inductive reasoning will start with specific assumptions like "It is hot today" and arrive at a
very general conclusion like "It might be hot tomorrow again."
Deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning works in the opposite direction (Avissar et al., 2013). Whereas inductive
reasoning will use specific data to reach a general conclusion, deductive reasoning uses
general statements to reach a specific conclusion (Avissar et al., 2013).
Deductive reasoning will use general statements like "All humans are mortal" and "I am a
human" therefore, "I am mortal." (Tom Richey, 2015)
Which is better?
As mentioned above, inductive reasoning is logically true, but it is not necessarily factually
true. Inductive reasoning works better for experiments in which we cannot actually prove but
instead must use inductive reasoning in order to find an answer that might be true, i.e.,
imaginary numbers.
For experiments which can be tested again and again, and which can bear exact result, I
believe that deductive reasoning might work better.
References
Avissar, Y., Choi, J., DeSaix, J., Jurukovski, O. V., Wise, R., & Rye, C. (2013, May 20). Biology (1st
ed.). OpenStax.
[Tom Richey]. (2015, December 5). Deductive and Inductive Reasoning (Bacon vs Aristotle -
Scientific Revolution)[Video].YouTube. RetrievedSeptember6,2022, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAdpPABoTzE&t=428s
[Don't Memorise]. (2019, July 30). Introduction to Inductive and Deductive Reasoning | Don 't
Memorise
[Video].
YouTube.
Retrieved
September
6,
2022,
from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAjkQ1YqLEE