Abductive reasoning

About: Abductive reasoning is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1917 publications have been published within this topic receiving 44645 citations. The topic is also known as: abduction & abductive inference.

Modeling students' Reasoning about qualitative physics: Heuristics for abductive proof search

Abstract: We describe a theorem prover that is used in the Why2-Atlas tutoring system for the purposes of evaluating the correctness of a student’s essay and for guiding feedback to the student. The weighted abduction framework of the prover is augmented with various heuristics to assist in searching for a proof that maximizes measures of utility and plausibility. We focus on two new heuristics we added to the theorem prover: (a) a specificity-based cost for assuming an atom, and (b) a rule choice preference that is based on the similarity between the graph of cross-references between the propositions in a candidate rule and the graph of cross-references between the set of goals. The two heuristics are relevant to any abduction framework and knowledge representation that allow for a metric of specificity for a proposition and cross-referencing of propositions via shared variables.

Abductive Cognition: The Epistemological and Eco-Cognitive Dimensions of Hypothetical Reasoning (review)

Abstract: 252 forms of war, an end to all conflicts. This is achievable, he seems to be saying, if we embrace only those loyalties that are not destructive of other loyalties. We are to respond to conflicting loyalties by distinguishing those that are loyal to the principle of loyalty from those that are not. The allies were justified in crushing the German state during World War II because the loyalty of the Reich was clearly destructive of other loyalties. Royce’s account may seem convincing if we accept his view that loyalties are always bad when they fall short of upholding the principle of loyalty, but it fails to convince when we consider that many loyalties are good even though they are at odds with other loyalties. Our best achievements often deprive others of theirs. There is nothing immoral about loyalty to the cause of securing a place in the sun, yet in serving that cause, we may destroy the same loyalty in our neighbors. When two teams vie for the championship, their loyalty is to the ideal of playing well and prevailing. Executives competing for a promotion act on the ideal of conscientious service, and philosophers arguing for their positions are loyal to the cause of truth. Loyalties of this kind often produce achievements of great value to individuals and their communities, and yet these loyalties cause great harm to the competition. Does Royce think we should eliminate all competition? The schematic of loyalty to loyalty is a promising means of reducing conflicts, but it is not a formula for salvation. In applying it to life, we must be pragmatists, not idealists. It is easy to forgive Royce for his love of the perfect and for his cosmic optimism: they are admirable qualities. But deceiving ourselves about the nature and limits of moral progress is worse than facing the facts and adjusting our expectations to fit them. In the struggle against evil, we can gain ground by choosing our loyalties wisely; but loyalty to many fine causes can result in our flourishing at the cost of disaster to others. The end of all moral conflicts is an ideal, the realization of which is probably incompatible with life in this world. Michael Brodrick Vanderbilt University michael.brodrick@vanderbilt.edu

The Development of the Analytic Coding Frames on the Abductive Reasoning in Scientific Inquiry

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the scientists` abductive reasoning in three stages of hypothetical-deductive inquiry process; generating hypothesis, designing, and interpreting data and to suggest new analytic coding frames on abductive reasoning in each of the stages. For this purpose, the interview protocols collected through in-depth interviews with eight scientists were analyzed by the early frame with sub-elements derived from the literature reviews. The need of a new frame of analysis beyond the previously established elements arose from the result of this analysis because the processes of abductive reasoning were found in all three stages. Based on scientists` interview data, this study then designed a new frame of analytic coding frames on the abductive reasoning in each of the stages. The content validity index from four experts was 0.90, and these frames showed a good fit to analyze the scientists` real process of abduction in three stages of hypothetical-deductive inquiry process.