Conjecturing

Abstract

Solving problems, whether practical, cognitive or moral, involves conjecturing: that this fruit is edible and that animal dangerous; that these rains announce a cold spell, and that stranger is friendly; that this stone may be suitable for fashioning an axe, and those twigs for kindling a fire; that this action may benefit my kin and that one hurt them—and so on and so forth. Every problem demands making some conjecture or other, and every conjecture poses the further problem of finding out whether it is adequate (true, efficient, or good).