I had a friend years ago that asked me a question for which, at the time, I did not know the answer. But, in her presence, I figured out the answer by going through a series of known, verifiable facts to arrive at a conclusion I was sure was correct, at which point she looked and me and said, “You are so full of it!” I may be but, if so, I am in good company. Consider these great inventors of the 19th and 20th century:
Thomas Edison, who conducted thousands of experiments, carefully observing the results, to inductively arrive at conclusions leading to many of the modern conveniences we enjoy today, 
including the light bulb, the phonograph and direct current.
Nickola Tesla, who observed Edison’s direct current and inductively arrived at a better system of electrical transmission, alternating current, which powers the homes, factories and cities of today.
Emmit Brown, who in his garage laboratory conducted years of experiments to finally invent the flux capacitor and introduce the world to practical time travel.
All of this is to say you don’t have to know the answer if you can figure out the answer. You see this type of challenge on IQ tests all the time.
- Fido is a dog. All dogs have tails. Fido has a ______. Answer: Tail.
- Fluffy is a cat. All cats have attitude. Fluffy has ____________. Answer: Attitude.
- Jimbeaux uses inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning can lead to discovery. Jimbeaux is a ________. Answer: Genius.
Years ago I used inductive reasoning to present a theory to a work associate. As a social experiment, I was working during the day as a carpenter to determine if real work would actually pay bills, enabling me to continue to impersonate an entertainer at night. My work associate was a 19-year-old from Pearl River, Jeff. We called him Jeffro Bodine. Jeffro liked to fight. Jeffro would drive around Friday nights with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a straw. Seeing his own blood just got Jeffro going. That makes Jeffro a ___________. Answer: Redneck.
The question I considered early one morning was, “Why is the sky red at sunrise?” I started with what I knew and made my presentation. “Jeffro, light at sunrise approaches earth from the sun. Earth has gravity. Gravity has the ability to bend light. Light consists of several different wavelengths. Since the violet end of the spectrum is shorter, as light bends, the shorter wavelengths are unable to make the bend, leaving only the longer wavelength, red, to reach the eye. Therefore, all we see is the red end of the spectrum and the sunrise appears red.” Jeffro responded, “Shut up Jimbeaux, you make my head hurt.”
Based on observations from past experience, I have induced two conclusions. First is that, through careful observation and thought process, the critical thinker can inductively determine correct conclusions based on those observations and arrive at knowledge previously unknown. Secondly, through careful observation and thought process, I should have induced that by now I should know better than to try to make something up and pass it off as knowledge previously unknown. I rest my case.
Tags: Edison, Emmit Brown, humor, inductive reasoning, inventors, Tesla
