The Differences Between Inductive and Deductive ReasoningSol

The Differences Between Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Solution

Inductive reasoning starts with specific examples or observations, and makes general conclusions or the possible rules lying behind them. By inductive reasoning, attempts are made to make general rules. In view of the broad generalizations used in inductive logic, the possibility of   some assumption being incorrect may not be ruled out.

Deductive reasoning applies a general rule to specific examples and starts with the rules, and determines the consequences. This is what we do usually in maths, by defining the rules for a mathematical process Then these rules are used to prove certain other, more complicated theories./ propositions. In case of deductive reasoning, we can be absolutely sure of our conclusions as long as the axioms/ assumptions are true.

We use inductive reasoning to ascertain whether our assumptions appear to be correct.

The deductive reasoning is used more commonly than inductive reasoning but it is possible only after inductive reasoning has led to a hypothesis about a given situation. Scientific approach requires deductive logic to test a hypothesis and scientists also use inductive reasoning to form hypotheses.

The scientific method uses a mixture of deductive and inductive reasoning to work.