CONTEXTUAL IMPLICATION
Charles François (2004). CONTEXTUAL IMPLICATION, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 671.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 671 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics |
This notion was introduced by C.S. PEIRCE and retaken by J. WARFIELD, who explains it as follows:
- “Every question involves contextual implication
- “In the first instance, CI refers to:
a) The linguistic demand placed on the recipient of the question
b) The hypotheses that underlie the question
- “In the second instance, CI refers to:
a) The (implied) questions to which those hypotheses are possible answers, and
b) The contextual implication of the implied questions
c) The hypotheses underlying those questions
- “and so on until a possible point is reached where there is no contextual implication. If such a point is reached it is in the axiomatic domain” (pers com.)
This concept is basic to any systemic inquiry because it helps to avoid undue simplifications. However, a limit must be put to the process, i.e. must be clearly perceived and stated.