Single Step Deduction

5, November, 2023

Rated: ⭐⚝⚝

What is single step deduction?

Single step deduction is the most basic, simplest form of deduction. You deduce immediately from what you observe.

For example, you see there’s a mouse – this person must have a computer. You see that mouse is on the right side of the table – this person must be right-handed. You see the tag is old – this mouse has been used for a long time.

Limitation

This term was first coined out by Damian Valens in this interview. Even though single step deduction is crucial foundation for higher level of deduction, it has its limitations.

Single step deduction can be stereotype and not accurate in certain cases.

For example, you see the mouse on the right – this person must be right-handed. There could be a million other explanations, and most possible alternative would be the owner of the mouse lend someone his mouse, so the handedness would be deduced for the last user, but not the owner. Meaning you often need more than one evidence to conclude something.

Benefit single step deduction

With limitation being understood, there are a couple benefits in using single step deduction. Single step deduction is beginner friendly, it sets up the mental habit of deducing things around you, making you a much more observant. More importantly single step deduction means hypothesizes. You see as much possible answer for your observation then slowly deduce them. Such is the right way of deduction.

Bonus homework: Try to spend 1 minute thinking about all possible answer for something that you observe.

Let say you see a black desk. Why was it painted black? Was it random, was it someone’s favorite color, was it the trendy color, was this paint special somehow, was it a cover up for something, was it the only paint left, was it commercially mass produced?

Always over practice so you have an easier time in field.