The Commens Dictionary
Quote from ‘Hume's Argument against Miracles, and the Idea of Natural Law (Hume)’
Term:
Quote:
Inference is any act of deliberate assent, in any degree, however slight, which a man accords to a proposition because he thinks that assent warranted by his already accorded assent to another proposition or propositions, called the premises. It is one act of inference to adopt a hypothesis on probation. Such an act may be called an abduction. It is an act of the same kind, when a hypothesis is merely suggested as possible worth consideration. For even then some degree of favor is extended to it.
Date:
1901
References:
MS [R] 873:3 (var.); HP 2:912
Citation:
‘Abduction’ (pub. 19.12.12-20:02). 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-humes-argument-against-miracles-and-idea-natural-law-hume.