Welcome to our week three discussion. This week we’re going to be discussing the difference between deductive and inductive arguments. To do so, let’s talk about Sherlock Holmes!
Sherlock Holmes, a famous fictional detective, often exclaims “deduction my dear Watson!” when he is asked how he was able to solve a mystery by connecting various observations and drawing a conclusion. So, for example, he may observe scuff marks in the floor and a crack in a window and conclude that someone snuck in through a window to commit a secretive crime. If you have the option to, go ahead and check out the first episode of the BBC version “Sherlock” if you have not yet seen it. (Obviously not required, but fun anyway).
Is Sherlock Holmes correct to exclaim “deduction” when he solves a mystery? Is he really using deductive reasoning to solve these crimes or is he mistaken? Further, what kind of reasoning would be best for solving the kind of mysteries that Sherlock does? Why?
