But this is not the only way of inverting a deductive syllogism so as to produce a synthetic inference. Suppose I enter a room and there find a number of bags, containing different kinds of beans. On the table there is a handful of white beans; and, after some searching, I find one of the bags contains white beans only. I at once infer as a probability, or as a fair guess, that this handful was taken out of that bag. This sort of inference is called making an hypothesis.[1] It is the inference of a case from a rule and result. We have, then—
Deduction.
Rule.—All the beans from this bag are white.
Case.—These beans are from this bag.
Result.—These beans are white.
Induction.
Case.—These beans are from this bag.
Result.—These beans are white.
Rule.—All the beans from this bag are white.
Hypothesis.
Rule.—All the beans from this bag are white.
Result.—These beans are white.
Case.—These beans are from this bag.
We, accordingly, classify all inference as follows:
Inference.
/^-\
Deductive or Analytic. Synthetic.
/^\
Induction. Hypothesis.
- ↑ [Later Pierce called it presumptive inference. See Baldwin's Dictionary art. Probable Inference.]
