Induction: A Literary Device

Etymology of Induction

The word “induction” comes from the Latin word induction. It means “a leading in.” In ancient Rome, the term was used to describe the initiation ceremony for new members of a group or society. With the passage of time, the term came to be used more broadly to describe any process of initiation or introduction into a new field of knowledge or practice.

Meanings of Induction

Field	Definition	Process/Method
Mathematics & Logic	Method of proof	Establishing general principles from specific cases
Science	Reasoning from specific observations	Deriving general principles or theories
Medicine	Artificial initiation/acceleration of labor	Applied to pregnant women
Philosophy	Method of reasoning	Moving from specific observations to generalizations, contrasted with deduction moving from general principles to specific conclusions

Definition of Induction

Induction is a literary device used to introduce a general idea or principle through specific examples. It involves using specific instances to draw a broader conclusion or generalization. Induction can be used in a variety of literary genres, including essays, speeches, and stories.

Types of Induction

Type	Explanation	Example
Complete Induction	All possible instances are examined, and a conclusion is drawn based on those instances.	If all observed planets in the solar system orbit the sun, we conclude that all planets in the solar system orbit the sun.
Incomplete Induction	Only some instances are examined, and a conclusion is drawn based on those instances. Also known as inductive reasoning.	All observed swans are white, so we conclude that all swans are white.
Analogy	Comparing similar things to draw conclusions about one of them.	Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, so too can a seed transform into a plant.
Enumerative Induction	A general conclusion is drawn based on a series of specific instances.	The first five students I asked were all excited about the field trip, so most students are likely excited.
Statistical Induction	Drawing a conclusion about a population based on a sample from that population.	Based on a survey of 1000 people, we can conclude that 70% of the population prefers coffee over tea.
Causal Induction	Inferring cause-and-effect relationships based on observed correlations.	Whenever it rains, the streets get wet, indicating a causal relationship between rain and wet streets.
Abductive Induction	Drawing the best possible explanation for an observed phenomenon with limited evidence.	The car’s engine is making a strange noise; it’s likely due to a faulty belt based on the sound and context.

Common Examples of Induction

There are many examples of induction that can be found in literature, as well as in everyday life. Here are a few common examples:

1. All the apples from this orchard that I’ve eaten have been sweet, so I conclude that all the apples from this orchard are sweet.
2. The last three times I’ve gone to the movies, the theater has been crowded, so I expect the theater to be crowded when I go this weekend.
3. Every dog I’ve ever met has barked at strangers, so I assume that this dog will also bark at me.
4. In a murder mystery, the detective might examine all the clues and piece together the evidence to arrive at the killer’s identity.
5. A scientist might study a small sample of a population to make generalizations about the whole population.

Literary Examples of Induction

Complete Example	Explanation as Induction
Example 1: In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet uses induction to conclude a conclusion about Mr. Darcy’s true nature based on his actions: “But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavor to conceal it, he must find it out. Perhaps he must be inattentive to her, or she must be ill-natured; who knows?” (Chapter 6).	Explanation 1: In this example, Elizabeth employs induction to argue that a man interested in a woman will try to discover her feelings. She uses Mr. Darcy’s inattentiveness towards her as evidence that he is not interested in her and draws the conclusion that he is a proud and disagreeable man.
Example 2: In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, the pigs use induction to justify their leadership and actions to the other animals: “Comrades, you do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us dislike milk and apples. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig.” (Chapter 3).	Explanation 2: In this example, the pigs use induction to argue that their leadership and actions are in the best interests of all the animals on the farm. They use the specific instances of the nutritional benefits of milk and apples for pigs to draw the broader conclusion that their consumption is necessary for the well-being of all animals.
Example 3: In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway uses induction to draw a conclusion about Jay Gatsby’s past based on his actions and possessions: “He smiled understandingly — much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced — or seemed to face — the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.” (Chapter 3).	Explanation 3: In this example, Nick uses induction to argue that Gatsby is a man of great wealth and social status based on his possessions and behavior. He uses Gatsby’s rare smile and the way he seems to understand and believe in people to draw the broader conclusion that he is a man of great influence and importance.
Example 4: In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch uses induction to conclude the true nature of Boo Radley based on his actions: “Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave…” (Chapter 24).	Explanation 4: In this example, Atticus uses induction by citing Boo Radley’s actions, such as providing gifts and assistance, to suggest that Boo is a kind neighbor despite his reclusive nature.

Suggested Readings

1. Toulmin, Stephen. The Uses of Argument. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
2. Walton, Douglas N. Informal Logic: A Pragmatic Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
3. Hitchcock, David. Introduction to Formal Logic. Wiley-Blackwell, 2019.
4. Copi, Irving M., and Carl Cohen. Introduction to Logic. Pearson, 2017.
5. Govier, Trudy. A Practical Study of Argument. Cengage Learning, 2017.