This book examines the nature of inquiry—the general method by which we expand our knowledge. It proposes a resolution of the paradox of inquiry, originally formulated in Plato's Meno and most recently the focus of the "logic of discovery" debate in the philosophy of science. The logic of correction developed here directly opposes the claim made by evolutionary epistemologists such as Popper and Campbell that there is no such thing as a "logical method for having new ideas." The author argues that beyond scientific discovery, the same logic can be found in the more intimate form of inquiry we conduct as we attempt to articulate meanings for ourselves. This comprehensive and revolutionary theory challenges traditional epistemology's conception of justification and provides substantial new interpretations of the nature of ampliative inference, representation and meaning, Platonic and Hegelian dialectic, Kantian analysis, the heuristic function of models and metaphors, and the role of inquiry in the constitution of human consciousness.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction: The Mind's Own Method PART I: INQUIRY WRIT LARGE Scientific Discovery 1. Full Circle: The Return to Discovery Method without Novelty Novelty without Method 2. The Logic of Correction Correction vs. Elimination Correction by Means of Elimination? Composite Responses and Partial Successes The Black Box Principle Toward a Logic of Discovery 3. Generating Explanations from Facts Initial Hypothesis Predicted Observations Contrasted Actual Observations Proposed Hypothesis Determination of Explanatory Power 4. Generating Facts from Explanations Initial Observations Proposed Hypothesis Contrasted Explanatory Hypothesis Predicted Observations Determination of Factuality 5. Novelty and Method: Remarried The First Principle of Inquiry Ampliative Inference The Regulative Principle of Correction 6. Maps of Discovery The Second Principle of Inquiry First-Order Maps Generation and Confirmation in Maps Second-Order Maps Second-Order Justification The Relativity of Result and the Scope of Inquiry Quantitative Variation and Intelligent Inquiry 7. Reciprocal Justification: Stability without Foundations The Third Priciple of Inquiry Some Earlier Views Reflective Equalibrium Neither Foundations nor Coherence Reciprocal Justification with Epistemic Privilege The Revisability of Observation Reports Reciprocal Justification at Different Cognitive Levels The Generality of Correction Theory 8. Discovery and the Philosophy of Science I: Enemies of Correction Partial Success and Evolution Evolutionary Epistemology I: Karl Popper Evolutionary Epistemology II: Donald Campbell 9. Discovery and the Philosophy of Science II: Friends of Correction Abductive Inference: C.S. Peirce and N. R. Hanson Computer Modeling of Discovery: Herbert Simon Generative Justification: Thomas Nickles PART II: REPRESENTATION Analog Maps and Digital Rules 10. Analog Maps Mental Imagery and Analog "Representation" Resemblance Continuity Density Seriality The Digital and the Sequential Relational Identity The Analog beyond Mental Imagery Conclusion 11. Digital Rules Analog Maps: Representing as Reproducing Digital Rules: Representing as Encoding Representational Incompleteness Levels of Representation Qualitative and Quantitative Rules Half-Levels of Representation Abstract Models Conclusions 12. The Calculus of Perception Representation and Translation Perception without Background Knowledge Representation Mistaken for Transduction Representation and Perceptual Inference Conlusion 13. Unarticulated Meaning Meaning, Articulation, and Formulation Prior Acquaintance At What Level of Cognition Does Meaning Exist Meanings of Abstract Concepts PART III: INQUIRY AND THE MIND The Articulation of Meaning 14. Saying What We Mean Initial Expression Proposed Meaning Contrasted Actual Meaning Proposed Expression Determination of Articulateness 15. Meaning What We Say Initial Meaning Proposed Expression Contrasted Articulate Expression Proposed Meaning Determination of Actuality Second-Order Maps Metaphor and Inquiry 16. Inquiry and Philosophy I: Plato's Paradox Platonic Inquiry "Knowing" and "Not Knowing" in the Theaetetus "Knowing That" and "Knowing Why" "Knowing" and "Not Knowing" in the Meno Levels of "Knowing That" and "Knowing Why" The Structure if Inquiry in the Platonic Dialogues 17. Inquiry and Philosophy II: Kant and the Perfection of Cognition The Informativeness of Propositions Kantian Analysis and the "Improvement" of Form The Paradox of Analysis The Fruits of Analysis: Genera Genera as Rules Analysis and Synthesis of Mathematical Concepts Analysis and Reason in the Perfection of Cognition Conclusion 18. Inquiry and Philosophy III: Hegel's Dialectical Logic Dialectic and Definition Dialectic and Ampliative Inference Dialectic as Correction The Category-Dependence of the Standard Contradiction Dialectic and Scientific Inference PART IV: OF TWO MINDS Inquiry and Human Consciousness 19. The Dialogue of the Soul with Itself Two Models of Inner Speech A Conservative between Cognitively Different Partners Talkings to Ourselves: Earlier Views Self-Consciousness Other "Dialogues" Hearing the Inner Voice Conclusion 20. The Roots of Duality Feeling and Representation Epistemology with Feeling The Duality Postscript: En Route to Knowledge Notes Bibliography Index