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Epistemology

Diagrammatic Reasoning, Abduction, Semiotics, and Charles Peirce

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“Theoric Transformations” And A New Classification Of Abductive Inferences, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 2010

“Theoric Transformations” And A New Classification Of Abductive Inferences, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Based on a definition of “abductive insight” and a critical discussion of G. Schurz’s (2008) distinction of eleven “patterns of abduction” that he organizes in four groups, I suggest an even more comprehensive classification that distinguishes 15 forms in an alternative structure. These forms are organized, on the one hand, with regard to what is abductively inferred—singular facts; types; laws; theoretical models; or representation systems—and, on the other, with regard to the question whether the abductive procedure is selective or creative (including a distinction between “psychologically creative,” as in school learning, or “historically creative”). Moreover, I argue that theoretical-model abduction—which …


The Complementarity Of A Representational And An Epistemological Function Of Signs In Scientific Activity, Michael H.G. Hoffmann, Wolff-Michael Roth Jan 2007

The Complementarity Of A Representational And An Epistemological Function Of Signs In Scientific Activity, Michael H.G. Hoffmann, Wolff-Michael Roth

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Signs do not only “represent” something for somebody, as Peirce’s definition goes, but also “mediate” relations between us and our world, including ourselves, as has been elaborated by Vygotsky. We call the first the representational function of a sign and the second the epistemological function since in using signs we make distinctions, specify objects and relations, structure our observations, and organize societal and cognitive activity. The goal of this paper is, on the one hand, to develop a model in which both these functions appear as complementary and, on the other, to show that this complementarity is essential for the …


What You Should Know To Survive In Knowledge Societies. On A Semiotic Understanding Of 'Knowledge', Michael H.G. Hoffmann Dec 2004

What You Should Know To Survive In Knowledge Societies. On A Semiotic Understanding Of 'Knowledge', Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Different situations - like school and workplace - demand different forms of knowledge. Even more important, in particular for lifelong learning, are forms of knowledge we need for managing movements between those situations. To develop a better understanding of how to 'navigate' knowledge boundaries, this paper analyzes, firstly, interviews with scientists interpreting familiar and unfamiliar graphs. Our goal is to identify those forms of knowledge that should receive special attention in education. Secondly, the article elaborates - based on Peirce's semiotic - an epistemologically reflected semiotic model to describe the role and conditions of knowledge.


How To Get It. Diagrammatic Reasoning As A Tool Of Knowledge Development And Its Pragmatic Dimension, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 2004

How To Get It. Diagrammatic Reasoning As A Tool Of Knowledge Development And Its Pragmatic Dimension, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Discussions concerning belief revision, theory development, and "creativity" in philosophy and AI, reveal a growing interest in Peirce's concept of abduction. Peirce introduced abduction in an attempt to provide theoretical dignity and clarification to the difficult problem of knowledge generation. He wrote that "An Abduction is Originary in respect to being the only kind of argument which starts a new idea." These discussions, however, have led to considerable debates about the precise way in which Peirce's abduction can be used to explain knowledge generation. The crucial question is that of understanding how we can get the new elements capable of …


Peirce's "Diagrammatic Reasoning" As A Solution Of The Learning Paradox, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 2003

Peirce's "Diagrammatic Reasoning" As A Solution Of The Learning Paradox, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

How can we reach “new” levels of knowledge if “new” means that there is something “evolved” that cannot be generated simply by deduction or by induction from what has been given before. The paper’s first goal is to show that two paradigmatic attempts at solving this so-called “learning paradox,” Plato’s apriorism and Aristotle’s inductivism, form two horns of a dilemma: While the inductivist cannot justify any representation of data without assuming a priori given hypotheses, the apriorist cannot justify why a certain application of given ideas is correct without being caught in an infinite regress. The second goal is to …


Lernende Lernen Abduktiv: Eine Methodologie Kreativen Denkens, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 2003

Lernende Lernen Abduktiv: Eine Methodologie Kreativen Denkens, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

No abstract provided.


Peirces Zeichenbegriff: Seine Funktionen, Seine Phänomenologische Grundlegung Und Seine Differenzierung, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Dec 2000

Peirces Zeichenbegriff: Seine Funktionen, Seine Phänomenologische Grundlegung Und Seine Differenzierung, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

No abstract provided.


Die Paradoxie Des Lernens Und Ein Semiotischer Ansatz Zu Ihrer Auflösung, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 2000

Die Paradoxie Des Lernens Und Ein Semiotischer Ansatz Zu Ihrer Auflösung, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

No abstract provided.


Mathematik Als Prozess Der Verallgemeinerung Von Zeichen: Eine Exemplarische Unterrichtseinheit Zur Entdeckung Der Inkommensurabilität, Michael H.G. Hoffmann, Manfred Plöger Jan 2000

Mathematik Als Prozess Der Verallgemeinerung Von Zeichen: Eine Exemplarische Unterrichtseinheit Zur Entdeckung Der Inkommensurabilität, Michael H.G. Hoffmann, Manfred Plöger

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

No abstract provided.


Problems With Peirce's Concept Of Abduction, Michael H.G. Hoffmann Jan 1999

Problems With Peirce's Concept Of Abduction, Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Michael H.G. Hoffmann

Abductive reasoning takes place in forming "hypotheses" in order to explain "facts." Thus, the concept of abduction promises an understanding of creativity in science and learning. It raises, however, also a lot of problems. Some of them will be discussed in this paper: After analyzing the difference between induction and abduction (1), I shall discuss Peirce's claim that there is a "logic" of abduction (2). The thesis is that this claim can be understood, if we make a clear distinction between inferential elements and perceptive elements of abductive reasoning. For Peirce, the creative act of forming explanatory hypotheses and the …