Abductive networks

This paper presents abduction and abductory induction. Abduction not only classifies the distinct type of reasoning performed when neural networks are applied, but gives a logical framework for expanding current neural network research to include network concepts not constrained by neuron analogies. These networks are called abductive networks. In describing abductive networks, this paper unveils the true source of the "power" of networks of functional elements. A practical machine learning tool for synthesizing abductive networks from databases of examples, called the Abductory Induction Mechanism (AIMTM), is also presented.