| The purpose of this thesis was to provide a pragmatist solution to Hume's problem of induction. Basically, this problem centers on the fact there is no guarantee that the future will resemble the past and induction assumes this in its very application.; Since induction is the basis of the scientific method and since this method is relied upon heavily by pragmatist philosophers, I used the works of C. I. Lewis and Nelson Goodman to illustrate how, upon review, Hume's primarily epistemological problem becomes a problem of philosophy of science.; Finally, I used recent work by Nancy Cartwright to show that scientific explanation does not fully explain facts in the manner proposed by "covering law" philosophers such as Hempel. This thesis lays the groundwork for further inquiry into induction and scientific explanation to be completed at a later date. |
