133. Under ordinary circumstances I do not
satisfy myself that I have two hands by seeing how it looks. Why not? Has experience shown it to be
unnecessary? Or (again): Have we in some way learnt a universal law of
induction, and do we trust it here too? – But why should we have learnt one universal law first, and not the
special one straight away?
I operate with assumptions –
which is to say I operate without knowing
when my assumptions are challenged –
they are revealed as uncertain
when my experience is challenged –
it is revealed as uncertain
induction is an argument to explain assumption –
to ground it in immediate experience
once you see there is no ground to
assumption –
induction is shown to be –
a useless argument
© greg t. charlton. 2009.
