Home Popper has argued (I think successfully) that a scientific idea can never be proven true, because because no matter how many observations seem to agree with it, it may still be wrong. On the other hand, a single contrary experiment can prove a theory forever false. The Problem of Induction (1953, 1974) For a brief formulation of the problem of induction we can turn to Born, who writes: '. .

Mathematical Induction Peter Suber, Philosophy Department, Earlham College In ordinary induction, we examine a certain number of particular cases and then generalize. Coffee shop burger #1 was greasy. Coffee shop burger #2 was greasy. Coffee shop burger #3 was greasy.... Coffee shop burger #100 was greasy. Therefore, all coffee shop burgers are greasy. (Or: The next coffee shop burger will be ...