 Induction is the process of drawing a general conclusion from incomplete evidence.  You consider evidence you have seen or heard to draw a conclusion about things you haven’t seen or heard  The intellectual movement from limited facts (a sample) to a general conviction is called an inductive leap

 For a claim to be credible the sample must be: 1.Known 2.Suffiecient 3. representative

 Occam’s Razor: the maxim that when a body of evidence exists, the simplest conclusion that expresses all of it is probably the best.  Maxim: 1. a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct

 Opposite of induction  Deduction moves from a general truth to a specific example  Vehicle of deduction is the syllogism

 This is an argument that takes 2 existing truths(premise) and puts them together to create a new truth  Classic Example:  MAJOR PREMISE: All men are mortal  MINOR PREMISE: Socrates is a man  CONCLUSION: Socrates is mortal

1. The premises must be true 2. The terms must be unambiguous 3. The syllogistic form must be valid

 Premises in a syllogism must be true  Major premise is derived from induction  Minor premise is derived from using the 5 senses (taste, touch, hear, smell, see)

 The terms of a deductive argument must be clear and consistent  If definitions change within a syllogism, arguments can become fallacious