Lectures on Inductive Logic


Book Description

Logic is a field studied mainly by researchers and students of philosophy, mathematics and computing. Inductive logic seeks to determine the extent to which the premisses of an argument entail its conclusion, aiming to provide a theory of how one should reason in the face of uncertainty. It has applications to decision making and artificial intelligence, as well as how scientists should reason when not in possession of the full facts. In this book, Jon Williamson embarks on a quest to find a general, reasonable, applicable inductive logic (GRAIL), all the while examining why pioneers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and Rudolf Carnap did not entirely succeed in this task. Along the way he presents a general framework for the field, and reaches a new inductive logic, which builds upon recent developments in Bayesian epistemology (a theory about how strongly one should believe the various propositions that one can express). The book explores this logic in detail, discusses some key criticisms, and considers how it might be justified. Is this truly the GRAIL? Although the book presents new research, this material is well suited to being delivered as a series of lectures to students of philosophy, mathematics, or computing and doubles as an introduction to the field of inductive logic




Lectures on Inductive Logic


Book Description

Inductive logic is a theory of how one should reason in the face of uncertainty. It has applications to decision making and artificial intelligence, as well as to scientific problems.




Lectures on Inductive Logic


Book Description







Argument and Inference


Book Description

A thorough and practical introduction to inductive logic with a focus on arguments and the rules used for making inductive inferences. This textbook offers a thorough and practical introduction to inductive logic. The book covers a range of different types of inferences with an emphasis throughout on representing them as arguments. This allows the reader to see that, although the rules and guidelines for making each type of inference differ, the purpose is always to generate a probable conclusion. After explaining the basic features of an argument and the different standards for evaluating arguments, the book covers inferences that do not require precise probabilities or the probability calculus: the induction by confirmation, inference to the best explanation, and Mill's methods. The second half of the book presents arguments that do require the probability calculus, first explaining the rules of probability, and then the proportional syllogism, inductive generalization, and Bayes' rule. Each chapter ends with practice problems and their solutions. Appendixes offer additional material on deductive logic, odds, expected value, and (very briefly) the foundations of probability. Argument and Inference can be used in critical thinking courses. It provides these courses with a coherent theme while covering the type of reasoning that is most often used in day-to-day life and in the natural, social, and medical sciences. Argument and Inference is also suitable for inductive logic and informal logic courses, as well as philosophy of sciences courses that need an introductory text on scientific and inductive methods.




Notes on Inductive Logic


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The Elements of Inductive Logic


Book Description

Excerpt from The Elements of Inductive Logic: Designed Mainly for the Use of Students in the Universities The precise object of the following pages is (without pre-supposing any technical acquaintance with logical terminology) to enable a student of average intelligence to acquire for himself an elementary knowledge of the main problems, principles, and rules of Deductive logic. They are not designed to save him the trouble of afterwards consulting more advanced text-books, either in his own or other languages. The English student who wishes to gain an exact and detailed knowledge of the relations of Deduction to Induction, and consequently of the true place and value of the former process in any special science, must still have recourse to the works of Mr. Mill; or, if he wish to trace the history of logical terms and doctrines (one of the most important chapters in the history of both ancient and modern literature), he must still consult Sir W. Hamilton's lectures, and the Appendices and Notes of Dr. Mansel to Aldrich's Logic. To these works, as well as to Archbishop Whately's luminous Chapter on Fallacies, and to the original and suggestive work of Mr. James Mill on the Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mini, the Author must, once for all, express his obligations. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.




Every-Day Reasoning


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