Induction, or inductive reasoning, or inductive inference, refers to infering general models from specific observations/facts/data, which usually exhibit some regularities, properties, or relations.

Another definition: "inference about the unknown by extrapolating a patter about the known". He also discusses justifying the use of induction. Part of the reason induction is useful is the Simplicity of the world.

See Universal inductive inference, for a formalization of optimal inductive inference.

Principles

• Occam's razor
• Baye's theorem
• Principle of indifference
• Principle of multiple explanations

See more at Universal inductive inference

See also Deduction, Transduction