Appendices Flashcards — Abduction & Introductory Structures
flashcards tpp abduction problem-solving introductions scq-structure proposals
What are Peirce’s three reasoning forms, and how do they differ?
?
All three reasoning forms use the same three entities (Rule, Case, Result) but start at different points: Deduction starts with Rule + Case → arrives at Result necessarily. Induction starts with Case + Result → arrives at Rule probably. Abduction starts with Result + Rule → arrives at Case possibly. The form of reasoning depends on what you already know and what you are trying to discover.
What are the three types of “structureless situations” where Abduction is required?
?
- The structure does not exist — you are trying to invent something new (the telephone, underwater tunnelling). 2. The structure is invisible — as in the brain or DNA, where you have only the results to analyze. 3. The structure fails to explain the result — as when Aristotle’s definition of force could not explain why a cannonball keeps moving after the force has stopped.
What is the difference between Analytical Abduction and Scientific Abduction?
?
In Analytical Abduction, the structure exists — the analyst already knows it and must find which part is causing an undesirable result. In Scientific Abduction, the structure does not exist yet — the scientist must first hypothesize (invent) a structure that could explain the observed result, then devise experiments to test that hypothesis. Analytical problem solving from Chapter 8 is Analytical Abduction.
What are the four standard questions that most introductions answer?
?
- What should we do? 2. Should we do what we plan to do? 3. How do/did we do something? 4. Why did it happen? Exhibit B-1 provides a comprehensive reference of 17 named introduction patterns spread across these four questions, each with its S, C, and Q elements identified.
When should a consulting proposal be structured around “steps” vs. “reasons to hire you”?
?
Structure around steps when it is a familiar client simply confirming scope — the question is already settled and you describe what you would do step by step. Structure around reasons to hire you when it is a competitive situation — you must persuade the client by presenting: (1) we understand your problem, (2) we know how to solve it (steps), (3) we have relevant experience, (4) our business arrangements make sense.
What is the correct way to handle “alternative solutions” in a document?
?
Strictly speaking, true alternatives do not exist — either a course of action achieves R2 or it does not. “Alternatives” arise when R2 is vaguely stated. The solution is to define R2 clearly at the outset. If alternatives are genuinely known to the reader in advance, compare each to R2. If the reader insists on alternatives despite a clear R2, either handle them briefly in the introduction or relegate them to an appendix in a comparative matrix (alternatives down the side, criteria across the top).
What is the before-after analysis technique for describing process changes?
?
When recommending changes to a process: (1) Draw a picture of the present process and note what is wrong with each step. (2) Draw a picture of the desired new process. (3) Identify the changes needed to get from old to new. (4) Explain the problem succinctly in the introduction. Visualizing both states before writing reveals what the actual changes are and makes the introduction clear and specific.
What does Herb Simon’s insight about problem solving mean for structureless problems?
?
“Solving a problem simply means representing it so as to make the solution transparent.” For structureless problems, this means that finding the right structural image to represent the problem is essentially the solution itself. The Abductive process — whether analytical or scientific — is fundamentally a process of finding representations (structures, images) that make the answer obvious.