Definition of inductive

The word "inductive" originates from the Latin "inducere," which means "to lead in" or "to introduce." In the 17th century, the term "inductive" was borrowed into English to describe a method of reasoning that begins with specific instances or observations and proceeds to draw general conclusions. This method of reasoning was developed by British philosopher Francis Bacon and is known as inductive logic. The term "inductive" was first used in this sense by the English philosopher and logician John Locke in 1690. Locke defined "induction" as "theArguing from Particulars to Generals." Since then, the term has been widely adopted in various fields, including science, philosophy, and education, to describe the process of arriving at general principles or conclusions based on specific observations or instances.