DISCOVERERS INDUCTION

In this paper I demonstrate that, contrary to the standard interpretat ions, William Whewell's view of scientific method is neither that of t he hypothetico-deductivist nor that of the retroductivist. Rather, he offers a unique inductive methodology, which he calls ''discoverers' i nduction.'' After explicating this methodology, I show that Kepler's d iscovery of his first law of planetary motion conforms to it, as Whewe ll claims it does. In explaining Whewell's famous phrase about ''happy guesses'' in science, I suggest that Whewell Intended a distinction b etween ''inductions,'' which can be empirically verified, and ''mere h ypotheses''-or guesses-which cannot. Finally, I argue that Whewell's d iscoverers' induction is a view worthy of our attention today. because it avoids a number of problems faced by prominent alternative methodo logies.