Perfect induction is also called induction by complete enumeration

Perfect induction is also called induction by complete enumeration. It establishes the material truth of an apparently general proposition on examination of each arid every instance covered by it.

In induction by complete enumeration, as the very name suggests, we separately verify every instance coming within the scope of a universal proposition for establishing a conclusion.

Here it is observed that a certain characteristic is found in respect of every individual member of a class. On the basis of this observation we make a statement in the form of a universal proposition. Let us take some example to illustrate it.

a. Suppose we find that every continent in the world has seas. Asia has seas, Europose has seas, and so too every continent. Therefore we conclude that every continent has seas.

b. Suppose every student of a particular class is found to be an Oriya. All the students of this class are Oriyas.

Symbolic example:-

C₁, C₂, C₃…….. Cn of the class C are P.

C₁, C₂, C₃……… Cn are all the members of C

All C’s are P’s.

Here though the conclusion is a universal proposition, it is only apparently so for it has limited or countable number of individuals. Since the members of the class are limited it is possible to examine each member of the class separately to establish a conclusion.

Induction by complete enumeration will not be possible where a class has unlimited members or where it is not possible to examine every individual of the class. In other words induction by comply enumeration is possible where the members of a class are limited and can come within the scope of individual examination.

In induction by complete enumeration there is observation of facts so the conclusion is a real proposition. Here the premises are obtained from experience and there is novelty in the conclusion. But it lacks any inductive leap.

Since there is no inductive leap there is no generalization here. It means there is no passage from the known to the unknown or from the observed to the unobserved instances. Since there is no generalization here, the law of uniformity of nature or the law of causation does not apply to it.

As it lacks all these essential characteristics of induction it is not induction though it appears to be so. The conclusion is only a summation of singular statements and does not make any advance by going beyond the premises. So there is no genuine inference in this case. Therefore it is called a process simulating induction.