1) How widely is abductive reasoning used in science?
2) Is abductive reasoning a valid tool for science to use in formulating theories?
3) What are some key examples of abductive reasoning relevant to the sort of science topics regularly covered at EvC (Evolution, Big Bang, Age of earth etc. etc. etc.)?
4) Can we 'do science' without abductive reasoning? Or is it a vital component of the scientific method?
Abductive reasoning, as described, is the hypothetico-deductive method's retarded little brother. Science doesn't use the abductive method save in hypothesis construction. What it does it kick it up a notch and
predict the consequences. If I predict that result B will follow from action A and then it does then I have powerful evidence for my theory C that predicted B->A before I test it but terribly weak evidence for newly formulated theory D that also claims B->A.
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