Chapter Indorser to Indulgiate of I by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Logical induction

, (Philos.), an act or method of reasoning from all the parts separately to the whole which they constitute, or into which they may be united collectively; the operation of discovering and proving general propositions; the scientific method. — Philosophical induction, the inference, or the act of inferring, that what has been observed or established in respect to a part, individual, or species, may, on the ground of analogy, be affirmed or received of the whole to which it belongs. This last is the inductive method of Bacon. It ascends from the parts to the whole, and forms, from the general analogy of nature, or special presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience and experiment. It relates to actual existences, as in physical science or the concerns of life. Logical induction is founded on the necessary laws of thought; philosophical induction, on the interpretation of the indications or analogy of nature.

Syn. — Deduction. — Induction, Deduction. In induction we observe a sufficient number of individual facts, and, on the ground of analogy, extend what is true of them to others of the same class, thus arriving at general principles or laws. This is the kind of reasoning in physical science. In deduction we begin with a general truth, which is already proven or provisionally assumed, and seek to connect it with some particular case by means of a middle term, or class of objects, known to be equally connected with both. Thus, we bring down the general into the particular, affirming of the latter the distinctive qualities of the former. This is the syllogistic method. By induction Franklin established the identity of lightning and electricity; by deduction he inferred that dwellings might be protected by lightning rods.

Inductional
(In*duc"tion*al) a. Pertaining to, or proceeding by, induction; inductive.

Inductive
(In*duct"ive) a. [LL. inductivus: cf. F. inductif. See Induce.]

1. Leading or drawing; persuasive; tempting; — usually followed by to.

A brutish vice,
Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.

Milton.

2. Tending to induce or cause. [R.]

They may be . . . inductive of credibility.

Sir M. Hale.

3. Leading to inferences; proceeding by, derived from, or using, induction; as, inductive reasoning.

4. (Physics) (a) Operating by induction; as, an inductive electrical machine. (b) Facilitating induction; susceptible of being acted upon by induction; as, certain substances have a great inductive capacity.

Inductive embarrassment (Physics), the retardation in signaling on an electric wire, produced by lateral induction. — Inductivephilosophy or method. See Philosophical induction, under Induction. — Inductive sciences, those sciences which admit of, and employ, the inductive method, as astronomy, botany, chemistry, etc.

Inductively
(In*duct"ive*ly), adv. By induction or inference.

Inductometer
(In`duc*tom"e*ter) n. [Induction + -meter.] (Elec.) An instrument for measuring or ascertaining the degree or rate of electrical induction.

Inductor
(In*duct"or) n. [L., one who stirs up or rouses. See Induce.]

1. The person who inducts another into an office or benefice.

2. (Elec.) That portion of an electrical apparatus, in which is the inducing charge or current.

Inductorium
(In`duc*to"ri*um) n.; pl. E. Inductoriums L. Inductoria [NL., fr. E. induction.] (Elec.) An induction coil.