Induction (philosophy)

A form of reasoning, also known as empirical induction, in which a general law or principle (i.e., a generalization) is inferred from particular instances of observation.  As a scientific method, it is attributed to Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and subsequently criticized as being logically invalid by David Hume (1711-1776). 

See Deduction, Fluid intelligence, Hypothetico-deductive method, Inferences (reading), Logical reasoning, Principle, Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM)