Rodney H. Swearengin
January 31, 2026
Read the following in order, doing some reflective writing as you work through each.
Rodney Swearengin, "The Negative Definition of Induction with a View toward Hume's Enquiry"
David Hume, Part 1 of Section 4: "Sceptical Doubts Concerning the Operations of the Understanding" in An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Hume, Part 2 of Section 4
Hume, Part 1 of Section 5: "Sceptical Solution of These Doubts"
Hume, Part 2 of Section 5
Write an argumentative essay that answers the following main question:
What does David Hume teach us about the nature of inductive reasoning by presenting his "sceptical doubts" and "sceptical solution" in sections 4 and 5 of his Enquiry—and how much does that improve upon Swearengin's negative defintion of induction?
Describe Swearengin's negative definition of induction along with Hume's "sceptical doubts" and "sceptical solution." Then answer the main question above. Does Hume improve upon the negative definition? What are the most difficult and problematic conceptual issues that arise in the readings? How did you resolve those difficulties? How should the nature of inductive reasoning inform our understanding of logic? What should be the main takeaway from the readings? Do you have lingering questions? Do you have a better approach to the issue? What in your way of conceiving things is the essence of informal inductive reasoning, and how does it differ from formal deductive reasoning? Mull all of this over, and construct a cogent argument that answers the main question above.
Develop some specific examples that draw the contrast between deductive and inductive reasoning. Go beyond the examples that Hume provides. Make the examples relatable to community college students (as much as possible). Use examples from our core course material. Show what deductive reasoning is. And contrast that with inductive reasoning. By distinguishing between the two, you should be elucidating deductive reasoning just as much as you are inductive reasoning.
The word count maximum below is a maximum—not a minimum. Be as concise as possible.
Word Count Maximum: 2,000 words
Minimum Number of Quotes from the Readings Above: 3
Complete any essay prep exercises you may have been assigned, follow the guidelines and use the rubric as a checklist.
