Definition:Inductive Argument

Definition

An inductive argument is a form of argument in which, if all the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true, but might not be.

Such lines of reasoning are ubiquitous in everyday life and in most human endeavors.

However, inductive arguments are only conjectures in the field of mathematics.

Such arguments are not truth preserving and therefore they are not proofs.

Examples

All Crows are Black

I have seen a lot of crows.

All the crows that I have seen are black.

Therefore all crows are black.

Also known as

Some sources refer to an inductive argument of this type as philosophical induction.

Note on Terminology

Despite the name, the Principle of Mathematical Induction is a type of deductive argument, not an inductive argument.

Also see

• Definition:Deductive Argument
• Definition:Empirical Argument

• Results about inductive arguments can be found here.

Sources

• 1973: Irving M. Copi: Symbolic Logic (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1$ Introduction: Logic and Language: $1.2$: The Nature of Argument
• 1995: Merrilee H. Salmon: Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking: $\S 3.3$
• 1997: Donald E. Knuth: The Art of Computer Programming: Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1.2.1$: Mathematical Induction
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): induction: 2. (in logic)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): induction: 2. (in logic)