Heuristic Argument

A heuristic argument is an argument that reasons from the value of a method or principle that has been shown by experimental (especially trial-and-error) investigation to be a useful aid in learning, discovery and problem-solving. A widely-used and important example of a heuristic argument is Occam's Razor.

It is a speculative, non-rigorous argument, that relies on an analogy or in intuition, that allows to achieve a result or approximation to be checked after with more rigor, otherwise the results are of doubt. It is used as a hypothesis or conjecture in an investigation. It can also be used as a mnemonic.

Famous quotes containing the word argument:

    The argument ad feminam, all the old knives
    that have rusted in my back, I drive in yours,
    ma semblable, ma soeur!
    Adrienne Rich (b. 1929)