1 · Three journeys become a rule
A friend describes their commute.
My bus was late three times. You can never rely on the buses in this city.
FROM EVERYDAY LIFE TO WAYS OF THINKING
What can one case tell us about all the others?
Personal experience matters. How far does the conclusion we draw from it reach?
One situation, two perspectives
2 · Limiting the scope of the claim
Another person asks about the route, time of day and other journeys.
Your three journeys were delayed. Does that also apply to other routes and times of day?
What can we notice?
The report of three journeys may be credible and express an important experience of that commute. The claim about all buses at all times goes further. Assessing that generalisation requires asking how the observed cases were selected and what further observations are available.
TRY IT YOURSELF
Change the example.
Write three versions: a statement about the three observed journeys, a cautious expectation for the same route and a claim about the whole city. What additional observations would the second and third versions require?
Your question to take further
How large is the step from what was actually observed to what is being claimed?
Take your question further.
Open the public preview of these three stations. Only choosing “Import into my reading paths” creates an additional private path. Add your own guiding question there; existing paths remain intact.
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