A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive (Vol. 1 of 2)
John Stuart Mill · en
Meanwhile, however, it is certain, as before remarked, that if this
inference can be drawn as to Socrates, it can be drawn as to all others
who resemble the observed individuals in the same attributes in which he
resembles them; that is (to express the thing concisely), of all mankind.
If, therefore, the argument be conclusive in the case of Socrates, we are
at liberty, once for all, to treat the possession of the attributes of man
as a mark, or satisfactory evidence, of the attribute of mortality. This
we do by laying down the universal proposition, All men are mortal, and
interpreting this, as occasion arises, in its application to Socrates and
others. By this means we establish a very convenient division of the
entire logical operation into two steps; first, that of ascertaining what
attributes are marks of mortality; and, secondly, whether any given
individuals possess those marks. And it will generally be advisable, in
our speculations on the reasoning process, to consider this double
operation as in fact taking place, and all reasoning as carried on in the
form into which it must necessarily be thrown to enable us to apply to it
any test of its correct performance.
Although, therefore, all processes of thought in which the ultimate
premisses are particulars, whether we conclude from particulars to a
general formula, or from particulars to other particulars according to
that formula, are equally Induction; we shall yet, conformably to usage,
consider the name Induction as more peculiarly belonging to the process of
establishing the general proposition, and the remaining operation, which
is substantially that of interpreting the general proposition, we shall
call by its usual name, Deduction. And we shall consider every process by
which anything is inferred respecting an unobserved case, as consisting of
an Induction followed by a Deduction; because, although the process needs
not necessarily be carried on in this form, it is always susceptible of
the form, and must be thrown into it when assurance of scientific accuracy
is needed and desired.
NOTE SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE PRECEDING CHAPTER.
This theory of the syllogism, (which has received the important
adhesion of Dr. Whewell,(33)) has been controverted by a writer in
the “British Quarterly Review.”(34) The doctrine being new,
discussion respecting it is extremely desirable, to ensure that
nothing essential to the question escapes observation; and I
shall, therefore, reply to this writer’s objections with somewhat
more minuteness than their strength may seem to require.