Inference

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What is Inference?

Steps in reasoning

Inferences are steps in logical reasoning, moving from premises to logical consequences. Inference is traditionally divided into deduction and induction, a distinction that dates at least to Aristotle. A third type of inference, abduction, has been proposed, notably by Charles Sanders Peirce. Deduction is inference deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true, with the laws of valid inference being studied in logic. Induction is inference from particular evidence to a universal conclusion. Abduction seeks neither logical certainty nor a universal conclusion but a "best explanation" based on likelihood given the evidence.