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.

Introduction: For an Epistemology of the Human Being

Abstract: During the research that lead to this book, I focused on three topics that I found pivotal for shaping human reasoning: the mechanisms underlying the development of scientific modeling, the distributions of knowledge in the environment amounting to cognitive niche construction, and the “epistemic immunizations” that, compared with higher regimes of rationality such as the ones displayed by science and logic, produce what is defined as irrationality.

[Why can it be difficult for clinicians to diagnose acute lyme disease? From physiopathology to diagnosis, via abductive reasoning and Bayes theorem].

Abstract: The diagnosis of acute neuroborreliosis may be difficult if it's regarded as a "classical" infectious disease. Through a clinical case, we illustrate the difficulties met and we suggest two ways of reflexion to assist in the diagnosis:--firstly, we explain how the comprehension of the behavior of the pathogen agent, which is similar to a parasitic behavior, can help to choose and interpret the results of additional tests;--secondly, we develop practically the clinical form of Bayes's theorem to demonstrate the interest of a rational Bayesian and abductive approach which should be preferred to the classical hypothetical and deductive reasoning.

Reasoning with Information Granules to Support Situation Classification and Projection in SA

Abstract: We present our results on the adoption of a set theoretic framework for Granular Computing in the domain of Situation Awareness. Specifically, we present two cases of reasoning with granules and granular structures devoted, respectively, to support human operators in (i) classifying situations on the basis of a set of incomplete observations using abductive reasoning, and (ii) obtaining early warning information on situation projections reasoning on granular structures.

Abduction and Concept Generation

Abstract: In this chapter, concept generation will be examined from the perspective of reasoning. Generally speaking, there are three types of reasoning: “deduction,” “induction,” and “abduction.” First, it is pointed out that the design process can be considered abductive as it has the same logical structure as abductive reasoning. Next, knowledge generated through reasoning is discussed in terms of whether it is “common knowledge” or “odd knowledge.” Strictly speaking, odd knowledge is false knowledge, but it also contains novel ideas. This chapter will describe how in deduction, “common knowledge” always leads to “common knowledge,” while in induction or abduction, “common knowledge” can sometimes lead to “odd knowledge.” It will also be shown how novel knowledge is born not of deduction but of induction or abduction. Finally, the similarity in the structures of metaphors and abductive reasoning will be explained.

Cognitive Abduction and the Study of Visual Culture

Abstract: In this paper art history and visual studies, the disciplines that study visual culture, are presented as a field whose conjectural paradigm can be used to understand the epistemic problems associated with abduction. In order to do so, significant statements, concepts and arguments from the work of several specialists in this field have been highlighted. Their analysis shows the fruitfulness and potential for understanding the study of visual culture as a field that is interwoven with the assumptions of abductive cognition.