I have to agree with Eliezer—at least partially—on this one.
Part of the solution to the “Problem with Induction” is to recognize that induction does not produce even the illusion of objective truth. It is justified, and it needs to be justified, only so far as the individual perspective of the reasoner and his limited data. It cannot be taken beyond this, but it doesn’t need to.
The real key is to recognize that deduction is actually a subset of induction, and it no more offers absolute certainty or confidence than any other sort. If the concept of ‘knowledge’ is to have any utility at all, it cannot rely on those impossibilities—and so the problem ceases to be a problem because it is ubiquitous and inevitable.
I can be justified in my belief that the sun will rise tomorrow; I can be justified in my belief that two plus three equals five. These are not different in kind, only in degree.
I have to agree with Eliezer—at least partially—on this one.
Part of the solution to the “Problem with Induction” is to recognize that induction does not produce even the illusion of objective truth. It is justified, and it needs to be justified, only so far as the individual perspective of the reasoner and his limited data. It cannot be taken beyond this, but it doesn’t need to.
The real key is to recognize that deduction is actually a subset of induction, and it no more offers absolute certainty or confidence than any other sort. If the concept of ‘knowledge’ is to have any utility at all, it cannot rely on those impossibilities—and so the problem ceases to be a problem because it is ubiquitous and inevitable.
I can be justified in my belief that the sun will rise tomorrow; I can be justified in my belief that two plus three equals five. These are not different in kind, only in degree.