Comprehension
Ideally, scientists deduce conclusions from general laws that they know to be true. For example, if we know that massive objects attract each other (because of gravity), then it follows that an apple will fall to the ground when it releases from the tree.
This logical reasoning from general to specific is known as deductive reasoning. Often, however, we do not know general laws that guide natural systems. We observe, for example, that birds appear and disappear as a year goes by. Through many repeated observations in different places, we can infer that the birds move from place to place.
We can develop a general rule that birds migrate seasonally. Reasoning from many observations to produce a general rule is inductive reasoning. Although deductive reasoning is more logically sound than inductive reasoning, it only works when our general laws are correct. We often rely on inductive reasoning to understand the world because we have few immutable laws.
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The fact that an apple will fall to the ground when it releases from the tree, is an example of deductive reasoning.
Statement II: Most important scientific discoveries are made only because of sound reasoning of the investigators.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
