ABSTRACT

Originally published in 1952. This book is a critical survey of the views of scientific inference that have been developed since the end of World War I. It contains some detailed exposition of ideas – notably of Keynes – that were cryptically put forward, often quoted, but nowhere explained. Part I discusses and illustrates the method of hypothesis. Part II concerns induction. Part III considers aspects of the theory of probability that seem to bear on the problem of induction and Part IV outlines the shape of this problem and its solution take if transformed by the present approach.

 

chapter I|8 pages

Scientific Outlook

chapter II|14 pages

Experiments and Method

chapter IV|11 pages

The Principle of Testability

chapter VI|11 pages

Hypothetico-Deductive Explanation

chapter VII|4 pages

Two Types of Simplicity

chapter VIII|10 pages

Determinism, Orderliness, and Uncertainty

part X|1 pages

The Traditional Approach to Induction

part XV|2 pages

Requirements for an Inductive Principle

chapter XVI|25 pages

Four Principles of Induction

chapter XVII|7 pages

Induction as a Successful Habit

chapter XVIII|4 pages

The Vertical Causal Nexus

chapter XIX|3 pages

Impasse in the Inductive Approach

chapter XX|14 pages

Some Theorems in Probability

chapter XXI|15 pages

The Meaning of Probability

chapter XXII|10 pages

The Probability of a Hypothesis

chapter XXIII|9 pages

Probability and Induction

chapter XXIV|14 pages

Transformation of the Problem of Induction