##  [Abductive Inference](/abductive-inference) 

  ##  [Abductive Inference](https://humanitites.quantumdictionary.io/abductive-inference-0) 

  

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**Humanities & Arts Dictionary**

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Definition

An ampliative inferential strategy that generates, ranks, or selects one or more hypotheses as the best available explanations for observed data or phenomena, using criteria such as explanatory scope, coherence with background knowledge, simplicity, and plausibility; abduction proposes candidate explanations but does not by itself provide deductive certainty.