Induction vs. Deduction

Henry George

[Reprinted from The Life of Henry George, by Henry George, Jr.,
Doubleday edition, 1930, pp. 447-448]

When the writing [of his second attempt at 'Protection or Free Trade', the manuscript of the first having been lost] was well advanced, Mr. George had some correspondence about it with Dr. Taylor of San Francisco, who suggested employment of the inductive method. George replied (September 14): 'My view of the matter is the reverse of yours. I do not think induction employed in such questions as the tariff is of any use. What the people want is theory; and until they get a correct theory into their heads, all citing of facts is useless' " [1885]