Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Many people distinguish between two basic kinds of argument: inductive and deductive. Induction is usually described as moving from the specific to the general, while deduction begins with the general and ends with the specific; arguments based on experience or observation are best expressed inductively, while arguments based on laws, rules, or other widely accepted principles are best expressed deductively. Consider the following example:
Jim: I've noticed previously that every time I kick a ball up, it comes back down, so I guess this next time when I kick it up, it will come back down, too. (inductive reasoning).


Bob: That's Newton's Law. Everything that goes up must come down. And so, if you kick the ball up, it must come down. (deductive reasoning)

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