Philosophical Logic

• Deductive and Inductive Reasoning (Bacon vs Aristotle – Scientific Revolution)
  (published on December 5, 2015 by Tom Richey)

In order to understand the Scientific Revolution, it is essential for students to understand the new ways of scientific thinking that surfaced during the 17th century. Deductive reasoning, which uses general premises to arrive at a certain conclusion, has been around since Aristotle. In his book Novum Organum, Sir Francis Bacon advanced a new way of philosophical inquiry known as inductive reasoning, in which the inquirer comes to a probable conclusion based on several specific observations.

While inductive reasoning is typically most closely associated with the scientific method, inductive reasoning has not lost its value. Rene Descartes famous phrase, "Cogito Ergo Sum," is in itself a process of induction.