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The Logic of Abduction: An Introduction

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Book cover Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

In this chapter, the focus will be on formal models of hypothetical reasoning , in particular on those concerned with abductive reasoning.

In Sect. 10.1 , the chapter offers a brief history of the notion of abduction, starting with an attempt to distinguish it from its closest neighbor, induction. Charles Peirce’s original conception of abduction is then presented and followed by an overview of abduction in the cognitive sciences, together with some paradigmatic examples of the kind that will be dealt with in the chapters to follow. Sect. 10.2 presents two main approaches to abduction in philosophy, as argument and as inference to the best explanation (GlossaryTerm

IBE

), something which sets the ground to put forward a general logical taxonomy for abduction. Sect. 10.3 goes deeper into three logic-based classical characterizations of abduction found in the literature, namely as logical inference, as a computational process, and as a process for epistemic change.

Hypothetical reasoning is understood here as a type of reasoning to explanations. This type of reasoning covers abductive as well as inductive inferences. As for the latter, in this handbook part, the concern will be limited to enumerative induction and will leave its full presentation to the corresponding chapter (Chap. 11).

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Abbreviations

AI:

artificial intelligence

ALP:

abductive logic programming

IBE:

inference to the best explanation

MBR:

model-based reasoning

PI:

processes of induction

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Acknowledgements

Research for this article was supported by the research project Logics of Discovery, Heuristics, and Creativity in the Sciences(PAPIIT, IN400514) granted by UNAM.

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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Mario de la Cueva S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    Atocha Aliseda

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  1. Department of Humanities, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Lorenzo Magnani  & Tommaso Bertolotti  & 

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Aliseda, A. (2017). The Logic of Abduction: An Introduction. In: Magnani, L., Bertolotti, T. (eds) Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30526-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30526-4_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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