convergent abduction

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Editorial synthesis · provisional

Definition

Convergent abduction is an editorial heading for RB3’s stated form of support drawn from distinct domains whose premises remain severable and do not individually entail the conclusion. It proposes an explanatory hypothesis through convergence rather than demonstration. The proposal preserves the author’s philosophical argument while distinguishing shared support from proof, independent empirical replication or confirmation of a preferred quantum interpretation.

Explanation

The epilogue combines Simondonian individuation, a quantum-foundations argument and Nishitani’s account of emptiness. Its native argument note explicitly says the premises are severable and that no one alone delivers the conclusion by entailment. The entry retains that limitation even where nearby synthesis uses stronger rhetorical language about what the premises show.

The physical discussion distinguishes the author’s proposed interpretation-neutral floor from its RTI idiom. This is the manuscript’s philosophical claim, not a new finding that particle indistinguishability proves the impossibility of absolute nothingness. RB1 also expressly says its interferometer evidence does not select RTI, preserving experimental underdetermination rather than treating convergence as independent confirmation.

The nothingness discussion gives always a non-temporal reading and distinguishes Nishitani’s emptiness from a void opposed to being. The proposal therefore does not report a temporal state before time or conflate distinct methods into one science. Its entry records the argument’s abductive status without claiming to have resolved the metaphysical debate it addresses.

Scope and attribution

Editorial convergent-abduction label preserves severable, nonentailing philosophical support; do not recast it as demonstration or empirical selection of RTI.

AB — The Actual Book

Source-verified occurrence; see the printed-page references below.

Occurrence locators: Appendix: 265.

RB3 — The Real Book, Volume III: Murmurations

The developed account belongs to RB3 in the cited local scope, with antecedents and qualifications retained.

Occurrence locators: Notes: 395, 396; Epilogue: 357, 358, 359, 360, 361.