Research On The Cognitive Functions Of Induction In The Process Of Knowledge Construction

This dissertation is part of the project "Research on the Innovation and Application of Modern Inductive Logic and its Cognitive Basis" which is one of the Key Projects of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research supported by Ministry of Education. This dissertation studies induction on the level of understanding the world and pursuing knowledge and further explores the applications of induction.Cognition is a cross-domain topic and basic methodology in academic studies, which is widely intertwined with logic. This dissertation having taken knowledge construction as the starting point, with a descriptive method it demonstrates the embedding function of inductive reasoning in the dynamic process of pursuing reliable knowledge, and further, integrated with the characteristics of induction, investigates the cause-effect relation between the growing nature and information expansion capability of knowledge. Then, extending to the complex social context, the dissertation further discusses how a cognitive subject cautiously employs inductive logic tools in pursuit of knowledge, regulating the balance of inductive reasoning in the process of tool applications, highlighting human brilliance in the process of knowledge construction and accordingly promoting the effective application of inductive tools to other social sciences, natural sciences and production practice.Knowledge growth can be roughly divided into two chronological dimensions: pre-growth and in-growth. The dissertation first analyzes the priori factors before knowledge construction, such as Chomsky’s language function hypothesis. Then it explores the paradigms and frameworks prior to knowledge construction, potential contextual platforms and the various initial factors human face before the application of reasoning tools. Then, with how to pursue reliable knowledge as the clue, this dissertation sketches the related theories regarding reliability theory involving external, objective and formulaic methods through which a dynamic knowledge construction model is introduced. Several typical knowledge construction scenes are selected and analyzed in this research, and similarities and probabilistic features are dealt with in the analysis. It is therefore concluded that the dynamic process of knowledge construction is a constant convergence inducing results process based on similarities.Finally, this dissertation discusses how to guide reasoning through explanation in a more complex context and enhance induction practice via the optimal explanation. Application of this theory is coupled with Reflective Equilibrium Theory, which makes inductive tools a free player from theory and practice and lays a solid foundation for constructing more precise knowledge. Finally, from the perspective of the solidification and alteration of knowledge base, this dissertation emphasizes the creative function of inductive tools in human cognition.The value and innovation of this dissertation is reflected in the following three aspects. First, in the process of constructing knowledge, we analyze the cognitive process of knowledge acquisition in both dynamic and static dimensions. In this process, inductive reasoning has an embedding function. And the practical characteristics of induction and acting characteristics of knowledge acquisition have something in common. In other words, the similarity in knowledge construction and the changing sociality in the knowledge base correspond respectively with the probability and the expandability of induction. In this way, the application value of induction is systematically displayed from the perspective of cognitive philosophy. Second, in researching on the subject’s pursuing knowledge process, reliability theory is applied to analyze its merits and demerits. Meanwhile, some typical cases of dynamic knowledge construction are described through formulaic methodology of reliability theory. Third, the dissertation analyzes the evidence that the subject uses more precise induction tools in complex and real social language contexts and that the conclusion of inductive reasoning can be put into practice. The primal explanation, and introspection and balance as the basic points in induction practice, though seemingly distant philosophical theories, can comprehensively promote the use of induction tools.