Mill's methods

Mill's methods
(or canons) The five inductive principles proposed by J. S. Mill as those regulating scientific enquiry. They are (i) The method of agreement. If two cases of a phenomenon share only one feature, that feature is their cause or their effect. (ii) The method of difference. If a case in which a phenomenon occurs and one in which it does not differ by only one other feature, that feature is the cause, or a necessary part of the cause of the phenomenon, or it is its effect. (iii) The joint method of agreement and difference. This combines the previous two. (iv) The method of residues. If we subtract from a phenomenon what is already known to be the effect of some antecedent events, then the remainder is the result of the remaining antecedents. (v) The method of concomitant variation. Phenomena that vary together are linked through some causal relationship. While the methods make good scientific sense they do depend upon a preceding analysis of the relevant factors, and they are not immediately applicable to cases where causation proceeds more ‘holistically’, or in virtue of a field of interlocking factors.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mill's Methods — are five methods of induction described by philosopher John Stuart Mill in his 1843 book A System of Logic. They are intended to illuminate issues of causation. Contents 1 Direct method of agreement 2 Method of difference 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Mill's methods — Five methods of experimental reasoning distinguished by John Stuart Mill in his System of Logic (1843). Suppose one is interested in determining what factors play a role in causing a specific effect, E, under a specific set of circumstances. The… …   Universalium

  • mill's methods — noun plural see mill s canons …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mill's method — Mill s methods …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Mill, John Stuart — born May 20, 1806, London, Eng. died May 8, 1873, Avignon, France British philosopher and economist, the leading expositor of utilitarianism. He was educated exclusively and exhaustively by his father, James Mill. By age 8 he had read in the… …   Universalium

  • mill — mill1 /mil/, n. 1. a factory for certain kinds of manufacture, as paper, steel, or textiles. 2. a building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour and other cereal products. 3. a machine for grinding, crushing, or pulverizing any… …   Universalium

  • Mill, John Stuart — (1806–1873) English philosopher and economist, and the most influential liberal thinker of the 19th century. As the son of James Mill, John Stuart was given an intensive private education, in which he began Greek at the age of three, and Latin… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Mill — /mil/, n. 1. James, 1773 1836, English philosopher, historian, and economist, born in Scotland. 2. his son John Stuart, 1806 73, English philosopher and economist. * * * (as used in expressions) block mill grain mill Mill s methods Mill James… …   Universalium

  • mill's canons — ˈmilz noun plural or mill s methods Usage: usually capitalized 1st M Etymology: after John Stuart Mill died 1873 English philosopher and economist : the five canons of logical induction formulated by J.S.Mill compare indirect method of difference …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mill, John Stuart: Logic and metaphysics — J.S.Mill Logic and metaphysics John Skorupski ENLIGHTENMENT AND ROMANTICISM IN MILL’S PHILOSOPHY Mill’s importance as one of the major figures of nineteenth century politics and culture, and the current interest in him as a moral and political… …   History of philosophy

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”