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O.42

over them, starting the conjecture, remarking its Explaining the surprising phenomenon, and adopting the hypothesis as Plausible, I reckon as composing the First Stage of inquiry. Its characteristic way of reasoning I term Retroduction; i.e. reasoning from consequent to antecedent. In one respect the designation seems inappropriate. Namely, in many instances where conjecture mounts the higher peaks the conclusion reaches its highest grades of Plausibility, and is really worthy of most confidence too, the inquirer is quite unable definitely to formulate what it is that

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