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So if inductive conclusions are not certain, can they be trusted?

Yes, but to varying degrees of certainty.

As we have discussed before, since no human being possess infinite knowledge, most of our inductive conclusions can be wrong.

There is one important exception. It is called “perfect induction,” where all the particulars are known.

For example, “all the letters on this page is black.”

This perfect induction yields certainty about the conclusion because you can observe that every letter is indeed black.

But even when we do not have complete or perfect information, we often have enough information to make reasonably certain conclusions on most questions in life.

For example, since virtually everyone has been observed to die, our conclusion that all men are mortal is considered true beyond a reasonably doubt.

The same can be said for concluding that gravity affects all objects, not just some.

The conclusion is practically certain but not absolutely certain.

In other words, we can be sure beyond a reasonable doubt, but not sure beyond all doubt.

Through observation and induction, an individual can validate their conclusions based on the very nature of life and the “constants” like gravity that are at work everyday.

Now that we have established how we can discover truth, what is our next step?

Personal Reflection:

So what does observation and induction have to do with discovering the existence of God?