Full Idea
The first starting of a hypothesis and the entertaining of it …is an inferential step which I propose to call 'abduction'. This will include a preference for any one hypothesis over others which would equally explain the facts.
Gist of Idea
'Abduction' is beginning a hypothesis, particularly if it includes preference of one explanation over others
Source
Charles Sanders Peirce (Abduction and Induction [1901], I)
Book Reference
Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.151
A Reaction
I take there to be no more important function within human thought than the procedure by which we give preference to one particular explanation. It only makes sense, I think, if we take it as part of a coherence theory of justification.
Related Ideas
Idea 14791 Abduction involves original suggestions, and not just the testing involved in induction [Peirce]
Idea 17685 Induction aims at 'all Fs', but abduction aims at hidden or theoretical entities [Armstrong]