Re: A good book

From: J M Davitt <jdavitt_at_aeneas.net>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:31:17 GMT
Message-ID: <VEVsg.28900$u11.440@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>

Keith H Duggar wrote:
> J M Davitt wrote:
>

>>Marshall wrote:
>>
>>>J M Davitt wrote:
>>>
>>>>And I think deduction is a better description of
>>>>relational expressions, isn't it?
>>>
>>>Is there a distinction between deduction and inference?
>>>I'm not clear.
>>
>>Deduction and induction are the processes for deriving a
>>specific fact from a collection of facts and vise versa;
>>Inference covers both of them, I think.  Plus, in the
>>world of databases, we're seeing the developing notion of
>>"inferential services" so I tend to avoid inference.

>
>
> Marshall, there is a clear, accepted, uncontroversial, and
> standard specialization of inference called deduction and it
> is not the one JMD gave. To wit:
>
> inference : a conclusion drawn from a set of premises
>
> deduction : an inference that cannot possibly be false if
> the premises are true
>
> induction : an inference that is not a deduction
>
> The words "deduction" and "induction" are sometimes used in
> other ways so philosophers often use the more explicit terms
> "deductively valid inference" and "inductive inference". Now
> inductive inferences usually also involve "generalization".
>
> -- Keith -- Fraud 6
>

"What he said."

That's an excellent set of definitions. Thanks, #6. Received on Tue Jul 11 2006 - 17:31:17 CDT