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On abduction, dualities and reason

Solari, Hernán G and Natiello, Mario LU (2023) In Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy 11(1). p.31-69
Abstract
We integrate dualistic conceptions of the real with Peirce's perspectives
about reality and abduction, emphasizing the concept of reason underlying
Peirce's thoughts. Peirce's abduction is related to the notions of retrogression and grounding in Hegel, later re-encountered in Hansonian-abduction. Abduction in turn is considered in relation to abstraction acquiring its fullest sense as a stage in the process of producing a theory. The process is iterative and self improving, it incorporates ``turbid thinking'' making it increasingly ``clear'' at successive iterations that incorporate the lessons taught by failed predictions, i.e., refutations.
The cycle of thoughts promoted by doubts comes to rest when belief is reached. We... (More)
We integrate dualistic conceptions of the real with Peirce's perspectives
about reality and abduction, emphasizing the concept of reason underlying
Peirce's thoughts. Peirce's abduction is related to the notions of retrogression and grounding in Hegel, later re-encountered in Hansonian-abduction. Abduction in turn is considered in relation to abstraction acquiring its fullest sense as a stage in the process of producing a theory. The process is iterative and self improving, it incorporates ``turbid thinking'' making it increasingly ``clear'' at successive iterations that incorporate the lessons taught by failed predictions, i.e., refutations.
The cycle of thoughts promoted by doubts comes to rest when belief is reached. We discuss how this coming to rest depends on a criterion for cessation of doubts. The observation is illustrated with two criteria, one proposed by Mach that only demands analogy and the criteria of dualists such as Goethe and Whewell that inspire the present work. Hence, it is possible to produce, and socially accept, imperfect theories unless we demand the highest level of rationality, avoiding any leftover of the turbid thoughts that have been used in the early developments.
Influenced by a constructivist, Piagetian, perspective of science, we propose and discuss conditions that are characteristic of rational abduction: rules for the rational construction of theories. We close arguing that there is an urgent need to develop a critical epistemology incorporating dualistic perspectives. (Less)
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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
theory building, rules of reasoning, epistemology
in
Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy
volume
11
issue
1
pages
39 pages
ISSN
2282-7757
DOI
10.23756/sp.v11i1.1217
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fe4edfe0-529b-45c3-9b32-e4f25b97c452
date added to LUP
2023-06-22 16:17:30
date last changed
2023-08-07 09:55:52
@article{fe4edfe0-529b-45c3-9b32-e4f25b97c452,
  abstract     = {{We integrate dualistic conceptions of the real with Peirce's perspectives<br/>about reality and abduction, emphasizing the concept of reason underlying<br/>Peirce's thoughts. Peirce's abduction is related to the notions of retrogression and grounding in Hegel, later re-encountered in Hansonian-abduction. Abduction in turn is considered in relation to abstraction acquiring its fullest sense as a stage in the process of producing a theory. The process is iterative and self improving, it incorporates ``turbid thinking'' making it increasingly ``clear'' at successive iterations that incorporate the lessons taught by failed predictions, i.e., refutations.<br/>The cycle of thoughts promoted by doubts comes to rest when belief is reached. We discuss how this coming to rest depends on a criterion for cessation of doubts. The observation is illustrated with two criteria, one proposed by Mach that only demands analogy and the criteria of dualists such as Goethe and Whewell that inspire the present work. Hence, it is possible to produce, and socially accept, imperfect theories unless we demand the highest level of rationality, avoiding any leftover of the turbid thoughts that have been used in the early developments.<br/>Influenced by a constructivist, Piagetian, perspective of science, we propose and discuss conditions that are characteristic of rational abduction: rules for the rational construction of theories. We close arguing that there is an urgent need to develop a critical epistemology incorporating dualistic perspectives.}},
  author       = {{Solari, Hernán G and Natiello, Mario}},
  issn         = {{2282-7757}},
  keywords     = {{theory building; rules of reasoning; epistemology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{31--69}},
  series       = {{Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy}},
  title        = {{On abduction, dualities and reason}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.23756/sp.v11i1.1217}},
  doi          = {{10.23756/sp.v11i1.1217}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}