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validity (as a rule we will not use the expression deductive “support”) in whichthe truth of the conclusion is either implicitly or explicitly contained in thepremisses. If is, therefore, possible to formally define induction and deductionin the following manner:Definition of induction:In an inductive argument, genuine supporting evidence (as expressed in thepremisses) can only lead to highly probable conclusions. In other words, in aninductive argument supporting statements merely lend gradual support (from alittle to a lot) to the conclusion(s).Definition of deduction:In a deductive argument, true premisses necessarily lead to true conclusions;the truth of the conclusion is already either implicitly or explicitly contained inthe truth of the premisses.The following simple examples of deductive and inductive arguments may bepresented:Deductive:All mammals have heartsAll horses are mammalsAll horses have heartsFree download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaInductive:All horses that have been examined hadheartsAll horses have heartsThe use of similar evidence in both these examples illustrates the importantdifferences between inductive and deductive arguments. In both examples it isaccepted that the supporting evidence is true. In the deductive argument,however, the conclusion is already implicitly contained in the premises, and theconclusion is, therefore, no more than an explication of the premises. In theinductive argument, however, the premises provide a good deal of inductivesupport for the conclusion. The conclusion is highly probable. Howeverunlikely this may appear, the possibility still exists that a type of horse may bediscovered which does not have a heart. In the inductive argument, theconclusion, therefore, does not follow of necessity. The differences betweeninduction and deduction are summarized in the following manner by Salmon(1973: 14):112

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