BonJour’s Defense of Induction: An A Priorist Way Out?

Abstract

Laurence BonJour has proposed a novel defense of the inductive principle (IP) in response to a skeptical challenge posed by Hume. In this paper, I elaborate and criticize BonJour’s strategy. Along the way, I draw attention to Anthony Brueckner’s criticisms of BonJour’s approach, detailing why they fall short of providing an effective rebuttal of BonJour’s argument. By distinguishing and applying two different kinds of probability assessment to BonJour’s premises, I argue that BonJour’s a priori strategy fails to provide a cogent defense of IP. I conclude by drawing out some implications for a priori attempts to argue for the principle.