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The Holmesian logician : Sherlock Holmes’ “Science of Deduction and Analysis” and the logic of discovery

Genot, Emmanuel J. LU (2021) In Synthese 198(11). p.10169-10186
Abstract

This paper examines whether Sherlock Holmes’ “Science of Deduction and Analysis,” as reconstructed by Hintikka and Hintikka (in: Eco U, Sebeok TA (eds) The sign of three: Peirce, Dupin, Holmes, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1983), exemplifies a logic of discovery. While the Hintikkas claimed it does, their approach remained largely programmatic, and ultimately unsuccessful. Their reconstruction must thus be expanded, in particular to account for the role of memory in inquiry. Pending this expansion, the Hintikkas’ claim is vindicated. However, a tension between the naturalistic aspirations of their model and the formal apparatus they built it on is identified. The paper concludes on suggestions for easing this tension without... (More)

This paper examines whether Sherlock Holmes’ “Science of Deduction and Analysis,” as reconstructed by Hintikka and Hintikka (in: Eco U, Sebeok TA (eds) The sign of three: Peirce, Dupin, Holmes, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1983), exemplifies a logic of discovery. While the Hintikkas claimed it does, their approach remained largely programmatic, and ultimately unsuccessful. Their reconstruction must thus be expanded, in particular to account for the role of memory in inquiry. Pending this expansion, the Hintikkas’ claim is vindicated. However, a tension between the naturalistic aspirations of their model and the formal apparatus they built it on is identified. The paper concludes on suggestions for easing this tension without losing the normative component of the Hintikkas’ epistemological model.

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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Logic of discovery, Merill B. and Jaakko Hintikka, Sherlock Holmes
in
Synthese
volume
198
issue
11
pages
10169 - 10186
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85085745879
ISSN
0039-7857
DOI
10.1007/s11229-020-02709-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9cf54cde-2935-48b6-9106-af0ae5d5e247
date added to LUP
2021-01-11 12:28:41
date last changed
2022-04-26 23:13:55
@article{9cf54cde-2935-48b6-9106-af0ae5d5e247,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper examines whether Sherlock Holmes’ “Science of Deduction and Analysis,” as reconstructed by Hintikka and Hintikka (in: Eco U, Sebeok TA (eds) The sign of three: Peirce, Dupin, Holmes, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1983), exemplifies a logic of discovery. While the Hintikkas claimed it does, their approach remained largely programmatic, and ultimately unsuccessful. Their reconstruction must thus be expanded, in particular to account for the role of memory in inquiry. Pending this expansion, the Hintikkas’ claim is vindicated. However, a tension between the naturalistic aspirations of their model and the formal apparatus they built it on is identified. The paper concludes on suggestions for easing this tension without losing the normative component of the Hintikkas’ epistemological model.</p>}},
  author       = {{Genot, Emmanuel J.}},
  issn         = {{0039-7857}},
  keywords     = {{Logic of discovery; Merill B. and Jaakko Hintikka; Sherlock Holmes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{10169--10186}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Synthese}},
  title        = {{The Holmesian logician : Sherlock Holmes’ “Science of Deduction and Analysis” and the logic of discovery}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11229-020-02709-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11229-020-02709-w}},
  volume       = {{198}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}