Inductive Inference

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
While inductive reasoning can’t lead to knowledge of truth, we can use it to extend our observations and make predictions about the physical realm. The classic example is the ball on the table. We roll the ball off the table, and we observe that it falls to the ground. It never floats in the air. It never rises. If we do this multiple times, we can plan that the ball will fall the next time we roll it off the table. We can extrapolate that the ball will fall off the table every time if we do this same experiment once a minute for one year, ten years, or a thousand years. That’s inductive reasoning. It’s a form of inductive reasoning.

This principle works well for a ball on a table and its behavior when it hits the edge of the table. It doesn’t work at all for telling us why the ball always drops and never goes up. It doesn’t tell us whether there’s something about our observation that we don’t understand. Therefore, by this inductive inference, we can’t say for certain that the ball won’t float up the next time we knock it off the table. Inductive inference provides a way of survival, but it doesn’t lead us to knowledge of the truth.

By comparison, deductive reasoning is absolute but also requires a true premise. Only divine revelation can provide a true premise. By revelation we can know that God is faithful to enforce the laws of nature, so we can be confident that He’ll continue to enforce the law that makes the ball fall off the table. If He chooses to do a miracle (do something different), we know that He’ll make that slight and temporary exception in His wisdom and to complete His good purpose.

Since the premise for this knowledge about gravity is divine revelation and truth, we have a true premise, and we can use that true premise to reach a true conclusion. We can know with certainty. Therefore, we can continue to do science using inductive reasoning. We can continue to have absolute knowledge using deductive reasoning based on divine revelation. However, we would be irrational if we were to have absolute belief or conviction based on inductive reasoning.
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We can trust that gravity will continue but not because of inductive inference. The reason we can depend on that ball falling when it hits the end of the table rather than floating up is that God enforces what we call the laws of nature, and God is faithful. We can depend on Him. By Jesus Christ, all things hold together. He reveals this fact about Himself as He speaks to us through Scripture.

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Inductive Reasoning

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
Inductive Reasoning: True premises use language to argue for a conclusion. If the argument convinces someone, that person says that the argument is strong and cogent. If the premises aren’t proven, the inductive reasoning isn’t sound. If the premises are proven, but a person isn’t convinced, that person says the argument is weak and isn’t cogent. The word, “cogent,” means convincing or compelling, so inductive reasoning seems to speak to persuasion rather than knowledge of the truth. However, inductive reasoning can also be helpful for developing pragmatic solutions. All godless science is based on inductive reasoning, and some of that science produces working solutions and products. The usefulness of inductive reasoning depends on the form of inductive reasoning as we’ll define below.

Example :

If X is true, then Y could be true. X is true. Therefore, Y could be true.

Inductive reasoning is fundamentally unreliable. Some say that it deals with percentages of probabilities, but that isn’t usually the case. Most of the time, the thinkers who claim that something is probable or improbable haven’t calculated anything. They go by gut feeling or simply make an unsupported assertion. They might even calculate a supposed probability using an actual formula, for instance, Bayes Theorem. But if they insert assumed numbers into the calculation, they nullify the value of the calculation. As we look at various forms of inductive reasoning, we realize that those forms aren’t all created equal.

Inductive Generalization:

All the people I have known prefer Fords. Therefore, all people prefer Fords.

Statistical Syllogism:

Our historical records show that it rains the following day twenty percent of the time whenever we have the current atmospheric conditions. Therefore, we have a 20% chance of rain tomorrow.

Simple Induction:

Twenty-seven years ago, I was a Christian, and I prayed that God would answer my question about why He decided to send the Genesis Flood. Since I didn’t receive an answer that I couldn’t argue against, I conclude that God doesn’t exist.

Argument from Analogy:

Rats are similar in some ways to humans. We tested our drug on rats and haven’t seen any adverse effects. Therefore, it’s less likely that our drug will have adverse effects on humans.

Causal Inference:

Some people believe that natural selection caused some evolutionary changes. They believe that other factors caused other evolutionary changes. Therefore, molecules-to-humanity evolution happened.

Argument from Prediction:

If it’s raining outside, I would expect the sidewalk to be wet. The sidewalk is wet. Therefore, it’s raining outside.

Inductive reasoning can also be a Bayesian inference or inductive inference.

Thinkers reason with all of these inductive methods, and some of these methods are logical fallacies. Some of them can be helpful for decision-making, but none of them can lead to knowledge of truth. Most of them just give the illusion of rational thought but are irrational. To think irrationally is to think insanely.
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Science is Inductive and Abductive

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
“Inductive reasoning (as opposed to deductive reasoning or abductive reasoning) is a method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying strong evidence for the truth of the conclusion. While the conclusion of a deductive argument is certain, the truth of the conclusion of an inductive argument may be probable, based upon the evidence given.” (Wikipedia)

“Some dictionaries define “deduction” as reasoning from the general to specific and “induction” as reasoning from the specific to the general. While this usage is still sometimes found even in philosophical and mathematical contexts, for the most part, it is outdated.” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Deductive Reasoning: True premises use valid form to prove a conclusion. If the premises are true and the form is valid, the argument is sound and the conclusion is true. If the premises aren’t known to be true or the form is invalid, the argument is unsound and the conclusion isn’t known to be true.

Example:

If X is true, then Y must be true. X is true. Therefore, Y is true.
</end quote>

Science is supposed to be based on inductive reasoning, but most of it is abductive. Divine revelation is absolute.

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Made-Up Stuff and Reason Shouldn’t Mix

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
Deduction, Induction, Abduction, and the Problem of the True Premise

The intellectuals propose three basic forms of reasoning: inductive, deductive, and abductive. Without true premises, no reasoning is sound. In other words, if we make up stuff and inject that made-up stuff into our reasoning, we aren’t thinking rationally anymore. Our reasoning isn’t sound. Sound reasoning is sane reasoning. So, we need true premises to think in a rational way.

The trouble is that the human mind has no path to true premises. It does have the power to make up stuff and to use tricks (fallacies) to make the made-up stuff seem true, but it can’t reason to a true premise. It can live a brute beast life that merely reacts to the five natural senses. It can learn what works. It can learn what happens if we do a certain action, which is what real science is about. But it can’t reason about things like God, the age of the earth, the age of the universe, right, wrong, or truth without drifting into the land of make-believe.
</end quote>
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Godly Wisdom

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
While many levels of “wisdom” exist, only truth and godly wisdom have value. We aren’t interested in living at a low level like an earthworm or a raccoon. Rather, we want to know the difference between truth and error. We want to understand reality. As we continue this journey, we’ll understand the word “knowledge.” Knowledge is knowledge of truth that we know absolutely because God reveals it to us. Even though we know He’ll give us a better understanding as we walk with Him and as He corrects us and teaches us, we know some truth, just not completely as we ought to know it.

Even so, ungodly thinkers can be brilliant. Since God reveals reality to them, they can have good outcomes too. But they have limits. They can’t be certain that any premise is true. They can’t think rationally about God, right, wrong, truth, or anything that’s not material without divine revelation.
</end quote>

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ALL Wisdom and Knowledge is Hidden

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
All knowledge is hidden in Christ

“the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2a-3 Berean Literal Bible)
</end quote>
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Wisdom and Knowledge Come From God

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
God also gives spiritual knowledge and wisdom.

“But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and of good fruits, impartial, sincere. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those making peace.” (James 3:17-18 Berean Literal Bible)

This wisdom from above is Jesus Christ.

“It is because of Him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 Berean Study Bible)

“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 International Standard Version)

“You are to speak to all who are skilled, whom I’ve endowed with talent, that they should make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest.” (Exodus 28:3 International Standard Version)

“and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge of all kinds of work” (Exodus 35:31 International Standard Version)

“Now Nun’s son Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had placed his hands on him, so Israelis listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9 International Standard Version)

“God gave Solomon wisdom and great discernment. His insights were as numerous as sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29 International Standard Version)

“After all, to the person who is good in God’s sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:26 International Standard Version)
</end quote>

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Demonic Wisdom

<quote>
“But if you have bitter jealousy and self-interest in your heart, do not boast of it and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-interest exist, there will be disorder and every evil thing.” (James 3:14-16 Berean Literal Bible)
Demonic wisdom isn’t good, but it brings many people to high levels of success. Many of these people earn huge salaries, write books, or use power to oppress others. They use jealousy and self-interest to motivate themselves and others. They may never realize that they’re receiving their wisdom from demons.
</end quote>
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Seek Jesus on Purpose

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
Devilish Knowledge and Wisdom

Demons “know” how to deceive us. They see many things. They use this perception to maim, kill, and destroy. Those who use séances, psychics, fortune tellers, or Ouija boards soon learn that evil spirits “know” some things. They see more than we do, yet they won’t glorify God. They deceive and lie. God warns about demonic wisdom. If an evil spirit speaks to us, we may think we’re clairvoyant, and we may think we know something even though we know nothing.
</end quote>

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The Holy Spirit Will Teach Us

2 Peter 2:12a and Jude 1:10 & 19 speak of those who are like brute beasts, unable to process rational thought and only able to respond to their five senses because they don’t listen to the Holy Spirit.

<quote>
Our natural, brute-beast minds would like to draw us into speculation. However, as we join our minds to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things.

“For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54 Berean Study Bible)

In the following verse, we read about an earthly tent, and God is referring to our natural bodies. However, God promises us a building, a heavenly dwelling. We can’t imagine a spiritual body, but God will see to it.

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-5 Berean Study Bible)

We groan for this change. Life on earth is often hard. The fallen world stresses us, and our natural desires try to pull us into evil. We battle sin, sickness, and death every day. But God didn’t set this futility as our destiny. We suffer for a little while, but He’ll reveal His glory in us.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?” (Romans 8:18-24 Berean Study Bible)

This hope mentioned here isn’t “I hope so.” God gives us this vision of hope, and He wants us to live in His hope and to focus our attention on the hope He’s giving us.
</end quote>
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