Inductive Paradoxes

The Raven Paradox

The statement “All ravens are black” is logically equivalent to “All non-black things are not ravens”

Positive instance

When a specific example confirms a general statement

Negative instance

When a specific example contradicts a general statement

Equivalence Critereon

How to determine when two statements should be treated as equivalent in truth, meaning, or function

Correlation vs. Causation

Correlation= two variables varying together. Causation= change in one variable directly produces a change in another variable

Accidental Generalization

A general statement that happens to be true for no explanatory reason

Law-like Generalization

A general statement that is true due to explanatory reasons

Enumerative Inductive Argument

A general conclusion drawn by observing many particular cases

Grue & Bleen

Time-dependent predicates. Grue= observed green before time T or observed blue after time T. Bleen= observed blue before time T or green after time T

Discontinuity Objection

An argument against vagueness that it introduces an unjustified & arbitrary discontinuity in something that is continuous

Complexity Objection

An argument against vagueness that says if vague terms have exact & sharp boundaries then those boundaries couldn’t be realistic in our language

Integration-with-science Objection

An argument against vagueness that says that the vague theories don’t align with what science says