Code Biology and abduction in the creative process

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how abduction represents one of the fundamental stages within the broader process of creativity. We begin by revisiting the various definitions of abduction, starting with the one proposed by Peirce, who conceptualized it as a form of logical inference enabling a “jump to a conclusion” from given facts. Post-Peircean semiotics retains the central idea that abduction is a logical inference that allows for “best guessing” and, as such, can lead to both fallacious reasoning and highly innovative insights. Particularly relevant is Umberto Eco's classification of abduction into three types: overcoded, undercoded, and creative. Expanding the notion into an ecosystemic framework, we examine two significant definitions of abduction, namely those of Gregory Bateson and Victoria Alexander. Bateson argues that abduction is a fundamental process underpinning most of our perceptions and knowledge of the world, enhancing our capacity for abstraction. Alexander, on the other hand, introduces a concept closely related to abduction: stochastic resonance. We argue that the theoretical framework which best integrates and enriches these perspectives is found in the field of Code Biology, where abduction is conceived as a vital process that enables human beings to interpret their environment, where three processes are necessary for interpretation: coding, decoding and abduction. Finally, we present several theories of abduction developed within one of the most application-oriented domains of creativity studies: design.