102,819
edits
Changes
no edit summary
Deductive reasoning applies general ''principles'' to reach specific conclusions, whereas inductive reasoning examines specific information, perhaps many pieces of specific information, to impute a general principle. By thinking about phenomena such as how apples fall and how the planets move, [[Isaac Newton]] induced his [[Newton's law of universal gravitation|theory of gravity]]. In the 19th century, [[Discovery of Neptune|Adams and LeVerrier]] applied Newton's theory (general principle) to deduce the existence, [[mass]], position, and [[orbit]] of [[Neptune]] (specific conclusions) from perturbations in the observed orbit of [[Uranus]] (specific data).
Deductive reasoning applies general ''principles'' to reach specific conclusions, whereas inductive reasoning examines specific information, perhaps many pieces of specific information, to impute a general principle. By thinking about phenomena such as how apples fall and how the planets move, [[Isaac Newton]] induced his [[Newton's law of universal gravitation|theory of gravity]]. In the 19th century, [[Discovery of Neptune|Adams and LeVerrier]] applied Newton's theory (general principle) to deduce the existence, [[mass]], position, and [[orbit]] of [[Neptune]] (specific conclusions) from perturbations in the observed orbit of [[Uranus]] (specific data).
===Historical References===
The action of deducting.
*1. a. The action of deducting or taking away from a sum or amount; subtraction, abatement.
1483 in Arnolde Chron. (1811) 110 The sayde Ri. shall be chargeable for the hoole somme..wythot ony deduxion. 1496-7 Act 12 Hen. VII, c. 12 §4 Any deduccion or abatement befortyme allowed. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. IV. xii. 217 He dyed in the day of his nativity, and without deduction justly accomplished the year of eighty one. 1776 SMITH W.N. I. viii. (1869) I. 68 His rent..makes the first deduction from the produce of the labour which is employed upon land. 1827 JARMAN Powell's Devises II. 55 The interest given to them was exclusive of, and with a deduction of, that sum. 1868 FREEMAN Norm. Conq. (1876) II. vii. 33 Charges of this kind must always be taken with certain deductions.
:*b. That which is deducted or subtracted.
1546 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 197 Wyth the yerely Resolutes and deduccions goyng out of the same. 1557 RECORDE Whetst. Xj, For subtraction your nombers are sette downe after the common maner, firste the totall, and then the deduction. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 55 In taking out the Deductions for the Doors and Windows.
*2. a. A leading forth or away (spec. of a colony); conduct. Now rare or Obs.
1615 CHAPMAN Odyss. VI. 455 Take such way, That you yourself may compass..Your quick deduction by my father's grace. 1677 HALE Prim. Orig. Man. II. x. 228 Deductions of Colonies, and new Plantations. 1832 Blackw. Mag. XXXI. 574 The solemn deduction (to use the technical term) of a legitimate Roman colony.
:*b. fig. A leading up to something, introduction. Obs. rare.
1513 MORE Rich. III, Wks. 61 (R.) He sodainly lefte the matter, with which he was in hand, and without any deduction thereunto..began to repete those wordes again.
*3. The action or result of tracing out or setting forth in order; a detailed narration or account. Obs. (Cf. DEDUCE 4, DEDUCT v. 5.)
a1532 Remedie of Love (R.), Ordinately behoveth thee first to procede In deduction thereof [this werke]. 1603 FLORIO Montaigne I. ix. (1632) 17 A long counterfet deduction of this storie. 1670 EVELYN Mem. (1857) III. 222 A solemn deduction and true state of all affairs and particulars. 1748 CHESTERFIELD Lett. II. clix. 71 It..gives a clear deduction of the affairs of Europe from the treaty of Munster to this time. 1826 C. BUTLER Life Grotius 34 We have thus brought down our historical deduction of the German Empire to the accession of the Emperor Charles.
==Deductive logic==
==Deductive logic==
Deductive reasoning is supported by deductive logic
Deductive reasoning is supported by deductive logic
==Natural deduction==
==Natural deduction==
Deductive reasoning should be distinguished from the related concept of [[natural deduction]], an approach to proof theory that attempts to provide a formal model of logical reasoning as it "naturally" occurs.
Deductive reasoning should be distinguished from the related concept of [[natural deduction]], an approach to proof theory that attempts to provide a formal model of logical reasoning as it "naturally" occurs.
==Cultural references==
==Cultural references==
[[Sherlock Holmes]], the [[fictional character|fictional]] [[detective]] created by [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], is well known for referring to deductive reasoning in numerous of Doyle's stories. However, Holmes' most famous inferences were arguably cases of [[Abductive reasoning|abduction]].
[[Sherlock Holmes]], the [[fictional character|fictional]] [[detective]] created by [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], is well known for referring to deductive reasoning in numerous of Doyle's stories. However, Holmes' most famous inferences were arguably cases of [[Abductive reasoning|abduction]].
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* [[Vincent F. Hendricks]], ''Thought 2 Talk: A Crash Course in Reflection and Expression'', New York: Automatic Press / VIP, 2005, ISBN 87-991013-7-8
* [[Vincent F. Hendricks]], ''Thought 2 Talk: A Crash Course in Reflection and Expression'', New York: Automatic Press / VIP, 2005, ISBN 87-991013-7-8
* Zarefsky, David, ''Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning Parts I and II'', The Teaching Company 2002
* Zarefsky, David, ''Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning Parts I and II'', The Teaching Company 2002