The Essentials of Logic, Being Ten Lectures on Judgment and InferenceBosanquet, Bernard
Philosophy
The Essentials of Logic, Being Ten Lectures on Judgment and Inference
Bosanquet, Bernard
Logic
2. The species of _x_ would be protected by resembling _y_ (because _y_
is distasteful to birds).
∴ The resemblance may be a “protective resemblance,” _i.e._ a
resemblance brought about by survival of those thus protected.
On this there naturally follows _Analogy_.
1. Protective resemblances naturally increase through series of species
from slighter to closer resemblances.
2. The resemblances in question increase in genus _x_ through series of
species from slighter to closer resemblance to _y_.
∴ The resemblances in question show important signs of being protective
resemblances.
When we get thus far, a single syllogism will not really represent
the argument. It can only analyse with convenience a single step in
inference. But now we have connected the reason of the resemblances
with the whole doctrine of natural selection, the gradual approximation
of the species is most striking, and we could set up a corroborative
analogy on the basis of every feature and detail of these resemblances,
the tendency of which would be to show that no cause or combination of
causes other than that suggested is likely to account for the observed
resemblances.
{157} I give a confirmatory negative analogy.
1. No protective resemblance can grow up where there is no initial
tendency to resemblance.
2. The non-resembling species in the genus _x_ show no initial tendency
towards _y_.
∴ The non-resemblances observed are such as could not produce
protective resemblances. This is a formally bad argument from two
negative premisses justified by its positive meaning, which implies
that _just where_ the alleged effect ceases, the alleged cause ceases
too.
If you look at the case in the Natural History Museum [1] you see the
normal Pierinae down one side, not approaching Euploinae. They are the
positive examples, negatively confirming the explanation of those which
do approach Euploinae. These latter all start from some form which
varied slightly, by accident we presume, towards Euploinae, and then
this partially resembling series splits into three sets, each leading
up to a different and complete protective resemblance.
[1] These cases in the entrance-hall of the Natural History
Museum at South Kensington afford excellent practical
illustrations of Inductive Method. I strongly urge the London
student to try his hand at formulating them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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