Quote from "A Theory of Probable Inference"

Commens

Digital Companion to C. S. Peirce

‘Hypothesis [as a form of reasoning]’ (pub. 03.02.13-17:33). 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-theory-probable-inference-0.

Term:

Hypothesis [as a form of reasoning]

Quote:

Corresponding to induction, we have the following mode of inference: [—]

Hypothesis.

M has, for example, the numerous marks P’, P”, P”’, etc.,
S has the proportion r of the marks P’, P”, P”’, etc.;
Hence, probably and approximately, S has an r-likeness to M.

Thus, we know, that the ancient Mound-builders of North America present, in all those respects in which we have been able to make the comparison, a limited degree of resemblance with the Pueblo Indians. The inference is, then, that in all respects there is about the same degree of resemblance between these races.

If I am permitted the extended sense which I have given to the word “induction,” this argument is simply an induction respecting qualities instead of respecting things. [—]

I call this induction of characters hypothetic inference, or, briefly, hypothesis.

Source:

Peirce, C. S. (1883). A Theory of Probable Inference. In C. S. Peirce (Ed.), Studies in Logic by Members of the Johns Hopkins University (pp. 126-181). Boston, MA: Little, Brown, and Company.

References:

CP 2.706-707

Date of Quote:

1883

URL:

http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-theory-probable-inference-0