The Problem of Induction: Solved
Chris: If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?
Ben: Well, its impossible to be certain of anything which is outside of your perception – its like if you go from one room into another room you can’t really be certain if the room you were in before is still really there…
Chris: Yes you can.
Ben: No…all you have is a rule derived from induction – you think, because the things in that room were perceived by me earlier that means when I go back in they will be again – and so you infer, without certainty, that the things in that room have an existence which persists even when you’re not perceiving them. But you can’t be sure that they exist unless you are perceiving them…
Chris: Yes. You can – Look…
Chris leaves the room and shuts the door.
Chris:(From outside) Can you hear me?
Ben: No.
