The Commens Dictionary
Quote from ‘Harvard Lectures on Pragmatism: Lecture VI’
Term:
Quote:
Abduction is the process of forming an explanatory hypothesis. It is the only logical operation which introduces any new idea; for induction does nothing but determine a value, and deduction merely evolves the necessary consequences of a pure hypothesis.
Deduction proves that something must be; Induction shows that something actually is operative; Abduction merely suggests that something may be.
Date:
1903
References:
CP 5.171
Citation:
‘Deduction’ (pub. 02.02.13-10:24). Quote in M. Bergman & S. Paavola (Eds.), The Commens Dictionary: Peirce's Terms in His Own Words. New Edition. Retrieved from http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-harvard-lectures-pragmatism-lecture-vi-1.