Did Sherlock Holmes use the deductive method? Holmes method in solving crimes 8 letters

Sherlock Holmes' deductive method:

• Based on all the facts and evidence, it is built full picture crimes.
• Based on the obtained picture of the crime, the only accused person corresponding to it is searched.

In terms of terminology, Holmes rather used " inductively"(a general judgment is made on the basis of particulars: cigarette butt-weapon-motive-personality, therefore Mr. X is a criminal). The deduction, in this case, would look like this: Mr. X is the only person with a dark past surrounded by the victim, therefore, it was he who committed the crime.

When forming an idea of ​​the crime scene, Holmes uses strict logic, which allows him to reconstruct a single picture from scattered and individually insignificant details as if he had seen the incident with his own eyes.

From one drop of water, a person who knows how to think logically can draw a conclusion about the possibility of existence Atlantic Ocean or Niagara Falls, even if he had never seen or heard of them. Every life is a huge chain of causes and effects, and we can understand its nature one by one."

- "A study in Scarlet"

“An observer who has thoroughly studied one link in a series of events should be able to accurately establish all the other links - both previous and subsequent. But in order to bring the art of thinking to its highest point, it is necessary that the thinker be able to use all the established facts, and for this he the most extensive knowledge is needed..."

- “Five orange seeds”

The key points of the method are observation and expert knowledge in many practical and applied fields of science, often related to forensics. Here Holmes's specific approach to understanding the world is manifested, purely professional and pragmatic, seeming more than strange to people unfamiliar with Holmes' personality. Having the deepest knowledge in areas specific to forensic science, such as soil science or typography, Holmes does not know basic things. For example, Holmes does not know the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun, because this information is completely useless in his work.

It seems to me that the human brain is like a small empty attic that you can furnish however you want. A fool will drag in there all the junk he can get his hands on, and there will be nowhere to put useful, necessary things, or at best, you won’t even be able to get to them among all this rubbish. And a smart person carefully selects what he places in his brain attic.

- "A study in Scarlet"

Next, using his method, which Holmes calls deductive, he figures out the criminal. The usual course of his reasoning is as follows: “Discard all the impossible, what remains will be the answer, no matter how incredible it may seem.”

- “The Sign of Four”

For example, while investigating the case of the missing treasures of Agra, Holmes is faced with a situation where the criminal, according to signs and evidence left behind, turns out to be a short man with a foot that has never seen shoes. Having rejected all options, Holmes settles on the only one: this is a short savage from the Andaman Islands, no matter how paradoxical this option may seem.

Holmes's unusual ability to make astonishing guesses based on the smallest signs causes constant amazement for Watson and the readers of the stories. The detective uses and trains this ability not only during the investigation, but also in everyday life. As a rule, Holmes subsequently thoroughly explains his train of thought, which after the fact seems obvious and elementary.

Consequence

In most cases, Holmes is faced with carefully planned and complexly executed crimes. At the same time, the range of crimes is quite wide - Holmes investigates murders, thefts, extortion, and sometimes he comes across situations that at first glance (or ultimately) do not have the elements of a crime at all (the incident with the king of Bohemia, the case of Mary Sutherland, the story of a man with split lip, Lord St. Simon's case).

Sherlock Holmes prefers to act alone, performing all investigative functions in one person. He is assisted by John Hamish Watson and the staff of Scotland Yard, but this is not of a fundamental nature. Holmes finds evidence and, as an expert, evaluates the involvement of those involved in the crime. Questions witnesses. In addition, Holmes often directly acts as a detective agent, searching for evidence and persons involved, and also participates in the arrest. Holmes is no stranger to various tricks - he uses makeup, wigs, and changes his voice. In some cases, he has to resort to complete transformation, which requires the art of an actor.

In some cases, a group of London street boys work for Holmes. Holmes mainly uses them as spies to assist him in solving cases.

Holmes keeps a detailed file of crimes and criminals, and also writes monographs as a criminologist.

I'm listening to you, Small. What's the matter? - he answered, taking the cigar out of his mouth.

“You don’t know,” I began, “to which official should I report the hidden treasure?” I know where half a million pounds are, and since I can’t use them myself, I thought; wouldn't it be better to hand them over to the authorities? Maybe my sentence will be reduced for this.

Are you saying, Small, half a million? - The major even lost his breath, and he looked at me intently to understand whether I was serious.

Yes, in precious stones and pearls. They lie there and lie there. And no one knows about them. Their owner is a convict, an outlaw. So they actually belong to the first person who finds them.

They belong to the government, Small,” the major said in a changed voice, “to the government, and no one else.”

But he said it so hesitantly, stuttering, that I realized that the major had fallen for the bait.

So you advise me, sir, to report the jewelry to the Governor General? - I said, pretending to be a simpleton.

There's no need to rush, Small, so you don't have to regret it later. Tell me about it in detail. To give correct advice, I must know everything.

I told him the whole story with some changes so that he wouldn't guess where it happened. When I finished, he stood for a long time, as if in a tetanus, and thought. From the movement of his lips, I understood what kind of struggle was going on inside him.

This is a very important matter, Small,” he said at last. - Not a word about him to anyone. I'll come to you again soon. And then we'll talk.

He came to me two days later late at night along with Captain Morstan.

“I would like, Small, that Captain Morstan would listen to this story from your lips,” said the major.

I repeated word for word what I told the major.

Sounds true, huh? - he asked the captain. - I would probably believe it.

Captain Morstan nodded without saying anything.

Listen, Small,” the major began. “The captain and I discussed everything and came to the conclusion that the governor-general had nothing to do with it.” This is your personal matter, and you are free to do as you see fit. But I would like to ask you this: what price would you offer for your treasures? We could go get them, or at least take care of their safety. If, of course, we agree on the terms.

He spoke in a cold, indifferent tone, but his eyes sparkled with excitement and greed.

“You see, gentlemen,” I answered, also trying to speak calmly, but feeling no less excited. - A person in my position needs one thing - freedom. This is my condition: freedom for me and my friends. Then we will accept you as a share and divide the treasures into five equal parts. You two will get a fifth.

Hmm, fifth? - said the major. - That's not a lot.

“Fifty thousand pounds for one,” I said.

But how can we free you? You know well that you are demanding the impossible.

“Nothing of the sort,” I replied. - Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. There is only one thing preventing the escape - there is no boat suitable for a long journey, and there is no food that would last for several days. It is easy to find a suitable boat in Calcutta or Madras. You will deliver her here. We will embark at night and if you transport us to any place on the Indian coast, consider that you have earned your share.

If you were alone,” the major remarked.

All four or none,” I said. “We vowed to stand by each other and always act together.

“You see, Morstan,” said the major. - Small is a master of his word. He doesn't abandon his friends. I think we can rely on him.

This is a dirty business,” said the captain. - But you are right, money will save our officer’s honor.

“Okay, Small,” said the major. - We will try to do what you ask. But first, of course, we must make sure that what you say is not fiction. Tell me where the treasure is hidden. I will take a month's leave and leave for India on a supply ship.

Wait, wait,” I said, becoming calmer the more worried he became. - I must have the consent of my friends. I told you: all four or none.

Nonsense! - exclaimed the major. - What do these black-eyed people have to do with our gentleman's agreement?

Black or green, I said, but they are my friends, and we vowed never to leave each other.

The matter was finally settled at the second meeting, in the presence of Mohammed Singh, Abdullah Khap and Dost Akbar. We discussed everything again and decided the following: we give both Major Sholt and Captain Morstan a plan of that part of the Agra fortress where the treasures are hidden. Major Sholto is going to India to verify the correctness of my story. If the chest is there, he buys a small yacht and provisions and sails to Rutland Island, where we will wait for him. Then he returns to his duties. A little later, Captain Morstan goes on vacation. We meet him in Agra and share the treasure. He takes his unit and the Major's and travels back to the Andaman Islands. Having accepted such a plan, we swore not to violate it under pain of eternal torment. I sat up all night with paper and ink, and by morning two plans were ready, signed by the “sign of four,” that is, Abdullah, Akbar, Mohammed and me.

But I seem to have tired you gentlemen, long story, and my friend Mr. Jones, as I see it, is impatient to put me behind bars. I'll try to be brief. Major Sholto went to India and never returned to the Andaman Islands. Captain Morstan soon showed me his name on the passenger list of the packet boat that left for England. It turned out that his uncle died, leaving him an inheritance, and he resigned. He thought he would never see us again. After all, he committed such meanness and betrayed all of us, including his friend. Morstan soon after this went to India and, of course, did not find the chest in the hiding place; the scoundrel stole it without fulfilling the conditions under which we revealed the secret to him. Since that day I have lived only for vengeance. I thought about this day and night. Taking revenge on Sholto became my only, all-consuming passion. I was not afraid of anything - neither the trial nor the gallows. To run away at all costs, to find Sholto, to cut his throat with my hand - that's what I dreamed of. Even the treasures of Agra faded before the sweet picture of the reprisal against Sholto.

I planned a lot in this life, and I always succeeded. But many more dull, monotonous years passed before fate smiled at me. I already told you that I picked up some medical stuff. One day, when Dr. Sommerton was lying in an attack of malaria, the prisoners picked up a tiny native in the forest. He was mortally ill and went to die in the forest. I took him in my arms, although he, like a baby snake, exuded anger. I treated him for two months and, imagine, I got him back on his feet. He became very attached to me and, apparently, did not want to return to the forests, because he hung around my hut all day. I learned a few words of his language from him, which bonded him even more. Tonga, as he was called, was an excellent sailor. He had a large, spacious canoe. When I saw how attached he was to me and that he was ready to do anything for me, I began to seriously think about escaping. We came up with this plan with him. He was supposed to drive his boat at night to an old, abandoned pier, which was not guarded, and pick me up there. I told him to take with him several pumpkin bottles of fresh water, plenty of yams, coconuts and sweet potatoes.

Little Tonga was a faithful, reliable friend. No one has ever had or ever will have such friends. At night, as we agreed, he drove the boat to the pier. But it so happened that that night a guard was posted - one Afghan, who never missed an opportunity to insult or hit me. I have long sworn to take revenge on him, and now this hour has come. Fate deliberately pushed us into last minutes my life on the island so that I could get even with him. He stood on the bank of the river. my back, with a carbine over my shoulder. I looked around for a stone with which I could knock his brains out, but I couldn’t find one. Then a wild thought came into my head, I realized what should be my weapon. I sat down on the ground in the dark and untied my wooden leg. After making three big jumps, I attacked him. He managed to put the carbine to his shoulder, but I swung a piece of wood and crushed his skull. There was a gouge in my piece of wood where I hit it. We both fell because I couldn't keep my balance. I got up and saw that he was lying motionless. I hurried to the boat, and an hour later we were already far out to sea. Tonga captured all his belongings, all weapons and all gods. Among other things, I found from him a long bamboo spear and several mats woven from coconut palm leaves, from which I made some kind of sail. For ten days we rushed along the sea, on the eleventh we were picked up by a merchant ship sailing from Singapore to Jeddah with a cargo of pilgrims from Malaya. It was a motley crowd, and Tonga and I soon became lost among them. They had one very good quality- they didn't ask questions.

If I start telling you all the adventures that my little friend and I had to go through, you won’t thank me, because I won’t finish until dawn. Wherever fate has thrown us! But we couldn’t get to London. And all the time I was wandering, I did not forget the main goal. I saw Sholto in my dreams at night. A thousand times at night in my dreams I killed him. Finally, three or four years ago we found ourselves in England. It was not difficult for me to find out where Sholto lived. Then I began to find out what happened to the treasures. I became friends with one of his household members. I won’t name anyone, I don’t want anyone else to rot in prison. I soon learned that the treasure was safe and in Sholto's possession. Then I began to think about how to attack him. But Sholto was cunning. He always kept two professional boxers as gatekeepers, and he always had with him his sons and a Hindu servant.

And then I find out that he is dying. Like a madman, I rushed to Pondicherry Lodge: would he really escape me in this way? I made my way into the garden and looked into his window. He was lying on his bed, with both his sons standing to his left and right. I got to the point where I almost rushed at all three, but then I looked at him - he saw me in the window, his jaw dropped, and I realized that for Major Sholto everything in this world was over. That same night, I finally climbed into his bedroom and rummaged through all the papers - I was looking for some indication of where he hid our treasures. But I didn't find anything. And then the thought occurred to me that if I ever met my Sikh friends, they would be pleased to know that I had managed to leave evidence of our hatred in the Major’s room. And I wrote “the sign of four” on a piece of paper, as it was on our maps, and pinned the paper on the chest of the deceased. Let him remember in his grave those four whom he deceived and robbed.

We made a living by going to fairs and poor Tonga showed himself for money. A black cannibal, he ate raw meat in front of the public and danced his war dances. So by the end of the day we always had a whole stack of coins. I was still in touch with Pondicherry Lodge, but there was no news from there. I only knew that his sons were continuing their search. Finally the news we have been waiting for has arrived. Treasures were found. They found themselves in the attic, above the ceiling of Bartholomew Sholto's chemical laboratory. I immediately arrived on site and inspected everything. I realized that with my leg I couldn’t climb there. I learned, however, that there was a dormer window in the roof, and that Mr. Sholto was dining below. And I thought that with the help of Tonga everything would be very easy to do. I took it with me and tied it around my waist with a rope, which we had prudently grabbed. Tonga climbed like a cat, and very soon he was on the roof. But, unfortunately, Mr. Bartholomew Sholto was still in the office, and it cost him his life. Tonga thought he had done very well by killing him. When I climbed the rope into the room, he was walking around as proud as a rooster. And he was very surprised when I called him a bloodthirsty devil and began to beat him with the free end of the rope. Then I took the treasure chest and lowered it down, then I went down myself, writing “sign of four” on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table. I wanted to show that the jewelry has finally returned to those to whom it rightfully belongs. Tonga pulled out the rope, locked the window and left through the roof the same way he came.

I don't know what else to add to my story. I heard a boatman praising Smith's boat, the Aurora, for its speed. And I thought this is exactly what we need. I made an agreement with the elder Smith, hired a boat and promised to pay him well if he took us safe and sound to the ship leaving for Brazil. He, of course, guessed that the matter was dirty, but he was not privy to the mystery of the Norwood murder. Everything that I have told you, gentlemen, is the absolute truth, and I did not do it to amuse you: you have done me a disservice, but because my only salvation is to tell everything exactly as it happened, so that all the world knew how Major Sholto had deceived me and that I was absolutely innocent of the death of his son.

“A wonderful story,” said Sherlock Holmes. - Quite a worthy ending for an equally wonderful case. There is nothing new for me in the second half of your story, except perhaps that you brought the rope with you. I didn't know this. By the way, I thought that Tonga had lost all its thorns. And he shot another one at us.

The one that remained in the tube. He lost the rest.

“I see,” Holmes said. - How did this not occur to me?

Any other questions? - our captive asked kindly.

No, thank you, not anymore,” my friend replied.

Listen, Holmes, said Athelney Jones, you are a man who must be pleased. Everyone knows that when it comes to solving crimes, you have no equal. But duty is duty, and I’ve already committed so many violations of order while pleasing you and your friend. I will be much calmer if I place our narrator in a safe place. The cab is still waiting, and two policemen are sitting below. I am very obliged to you and your friend for your help. It goes without saying that your presence at the trial is necessary. Good night.

"Good night, gentlemen," said Small.

“You first, Small,” Jones said prudently as they left the room. “I don’t want you to hit me over the head with your piece of wood, like you did in the Andaman Islands.”

That’s the end of our little drama,” I said, after we had been smoking in silence for some time. - I'm afraid, Holmes, that this is the last time I had the opportunity to study your method. Miss Morstan has done me the honor of agreeing to become my wife.

Holmes let out a cry of despair.

I was so afraid of this! - he said. - No, I cannot congratulate you.

Don't you like my choice? - I asked, slightly hurt.

Like. I must say that Miss Morstan is a charming girl and could be a real help in our affairs. She undoubtedly has the data for this. Did you notice that on the very first day she brought us, out of all her father’s papers, nothing more than a plan for the Agra fortress. But love is an emotional thing, and, being such, it is the opposite of pure and cold reason. And, as you know, I value reason above all else. As for me, I will never get married so as not to lose clarity of mind.

I hope,” I said, laughing, “that my mind will stand this test.” But you, Holmes, look very tired again.

Yes, the reaction is starting. Now I'll be like a squeezed lemon all week.

How strange it is that you alternate between periods of what I, speaking about another person, would call laziness, with periods full of the most active and intense activity.

Yes,” he said, “I have the qualities of both a great lazy person and a notorious fighter.” I often recall the words of Goethe: Schade, dass die Natur nur einen Menschen ausr dir schuf, denn zum wurdigen Mann war und zum Schelmen der Stoff5. By the way - returning to the Norwood case - they, as I expected, did have an assistant in the house. And this is none other than the butler Lal Rao. So, Jones still has the honor of catching one big fish.

How unfairly the winnings were distributed! - I noticed. - Everything in this matter was done by you. But I got a wife. And all the glory will go to Jones. What remains for you?

To me? - said Holmes. - And for me - an ampoule with cocaine.

And he extended his narrow white hand to the toiletry case.

Notes

1 Magnificently, masterfully, brilliantly (French).

2 Bad taste leads to crime (French).

3 “There are no more intolerable fools than those who are not completely devoid of intelligence” (French). F. La Rochefoucauld. "Maxims and Moral Reflections."

4 “We are used to people making fun of things they don’t understand” (German)

5 What a pity that nature made you into one person: you had enough material for both a righteous man and a scoundrel (German).

And with this he often confuses readers familiar with elementary concepts of logic. After all deductive reasoning- this is an inference leading from the general to the specific. The simplest example of such reasoning: we know about the force of gravity of the Earth; we have general idea that water falls down and does not rush up; We have repeatedly observed the process of falling water. These general messages allow us to logically imagine what (the particular) looks like, although we have never seen it.

But the well-known Sherlock Holmes uses completely different types of inferences, more likely known as induction, that is, ascent from the particular to the general. From the dirt on the shoes the detective concludes that the man came from the countryside, from the patches and shoemaker's tags that the owner of the shoes is a poor man, and from the railway ticket sticking out of his pocket he concludes that he came to London by train. In his solving of crimes, the famous detective goes through the following chain of cause and effect: cigar ashes - the smoker - his motives - the personality of the smoker. And in the end he makes a conclusion: the criminal is Mr. X. In the case of Holmes’s notorious deduction, the thinking would have gone in a completely different direction: Mr. X is very similar to the criminal, while the other people involved in this case are not. His past is dark. He had a motive to kill the victim. He has no alibi for the time of the crime. Therefore, the killer is Mr. X.

So what deductive method does Holmes use in the process of solving a crime? At first it seems that, based on the smallest details, he recreates the picture of the crime, as if it were being played out again before his eyes. For example, in the case of the disappearance of Agra's treasure: from the trace of a small foot with protruding toes, the detective guesses that the person who left the trace is short and has never worn shoes. One more mental effort, and there you have it: the criminal is a pygmy with

It would seem that pure induction is taking place here - an ascent from the particular to the general (from private evidence to the general picture of the crime). Whereas the deductive method is a descent from the general to the particular. But in reality there is no contradiction here. Holmes says: “Every life is an unbroken chain of cause and effect, and we can study the nature of this chain from just one of its links.” Remember the example with water and Niagara Falls? Here is another important quote from Conan Doyle, where the literary hero speaks about his method: “All crimes reveal great generic similarities. They (Scotland Yard agents) introduce me to the circumstances of a particular case. Knowing the details of 1000 cases, it would be strange not to solve the 1001st.”

Thus, Holmes' deductive method assumes knowledge of basic crimes (eg, murder, theft, forgery). His murders are classified according to the “family tree” into murders out of jealousy, for profit, out of revenge, etc. Later it turns out that the murder for the sake of obtaining the Duke's inheritance and the murder committed for the sake of possessing the Esquire's inheritance also have their own specifics, and so on, down to the smallest detail. The detective, or rather the author, being an Englishman and having an idea of ​​the insular (i.e. accepted in the British Isles) proceeds from the fact that a new, as yet unsolved crime had a precedent in the past, and it simply needs to be adjusted to this form .

We can say with confidence that, despite external induction, Holmes uses the deductive method in his logical calculations. Playing the violin or smoking by the fireplace, the brilliant detective ponders: to what category should this or that crime be classified? Revenge? Jealousy? Thirst for profit? Sherlock discards everything inappropriate, like one sifts the husks from wheat, until the only correct grain remains in his hands. And he himself says about his method: “I throw aside everything impossible, and what remains is the answer to the question, no matter how fantastic it may seem.”