Simple explanation for inductive reasoning?

Question

I know the dictionary definition of inductive reasoning, but can anyone explain it simply?

Answer 1

I'll give it a shot :)

inductive reasoning is when you draw a general conclusion from limited experience.  an assumption based on experiences, but not alway a solid fact, absolutely 100% provable. You might even say, to break it down into easy to think about terms, that it is something that you are almost positive is true, but can't prove.

For instance, every cat you have ever seen has fur. So inductive reasoning leads to the statement: All cats have fur.

It is based on an assumption and seems like it could very well be true, but it is not absolute fact. You could argue against it, and in fact, I think there is a breed of hairless cat.

A store owner who has observed over his many years of selling tourist items that he sells a lot of things in the summer months would be using inductive reasoning when he comes to the conclusion that "tourist season is in the summer". But maybe next year a wave of Christmas visitors will come and prove it to be false.

There is reasonable inductive reasoning, such as the above and then there is ridiculous and weak inductive reasoning,  such as "blondes are dumb." ;)

hope that helps!

Answer 2

I'll try!

Inductive reasoning is where you could have a premise (a statement), another premise, you draw a conclusion and both premises may be true but the conclusion won't necessarily be true.

We use inductive reasoning every single day e.g. it rained today, it rained the day before, so it will probably rain today... but it is flawed because it makes generalisations.