Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
- What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning? What types of propositions work best for each?
Inductive reasoning entails moving from the specific to the general, in which a person cites enough particular examples to reach a generalized conclusion (Huber and Snider 92). Accordingly, induction reasoning is characterized by citing factual and analogous examples, which means that the illustrations should focus on the same subject. For example, if an individual’s topic is about cats, the examples should be restricted to cats. Of importance is also finding a sufficient number of examples before stating the conclusion (92). As such, the generalized conclusion is an illustration of the similar characteristics of all the examples given. Inductive reasoning works best in the sampling process of research and public opinion polls. The technique is also viable in universal laws, empirical method, and case study method (95). Inductive reasoning is fact-driven.
In contrast, deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning in which the conclusion is deduced from premises that can be proven, generally accepted, or unproven. Henceforth, deductive reasoning best applies when testing a hypothesis (124). Equally, deductive reasoning can be used in argumentative speeches (127), as well as propositions of value, fact, and policy. Deductive reasoning examines the premises before concluding.
- Give an example of an argument using either inductive or deductive reasoning. Explain your answer why. The argument uses deductive reasoning:
Slovakia has very tall people
Mark is from Slovakia
Therefore, Mark is a very tall person
The deductive argument is a syllogism as it has clear premises stated in the present form and has three parts, according to Huber and Snider (110). The first part, known as the major premise is Slovakia has very tall people, while the second part, the minor premise, is Mark is from Slovakia. The conclusion, which is the last part, is that Mark is a very tall person. Moreover, the statement is deductive based on the assumption that what is true for a whole category will also be true for a specific case, which applies for categorical deduction (112). The argument that Mark is a very tall person holds true because the major premise is a widely accepted fact.
Work Cited
Huber, Robert, and Alfred Snider. Influencing through Argument. New York, NY: International Debate Education Association, 2005.