INDUCTIVE REASONING

Inductive reasoning is much more difficult to do well than is deductive reasoning, since it is a more creative activity. In inductive reasoning the mind notices that several different things (ideas, events, facts) arc similar in some way, brings them together in a group, and comments on the significance of their similarity.

ln the example of the Polish tanks cited in Exhibit 16 on page 61, the events were all defined as warlike movements against Poland. Hence, the inference that Poland was about to be invaded. lf, however; the events had been defined as preparations by Poland's allies to attack the rest of Europe, a quite different inference would have been in order.

This brings us to the two major skills one must develop to think creatively in the inductive form:

Defining the ideas in the grouping

Identifying the misfits among them.

How to do both things with precision is explained in considerable detail in: lmposing Logical Order. But at this point you need only understand the rudiments of how it is done to be able to distinguish the process from deduction.