Plausible Reasoning for the Problems of Cognitive Sociology

The plausible reasoning class (called the JSM-reasoning in hon- our of John Stuart Mill) is described. It implements interaction of three forms of non-deductive procedures-induction, analogy and abduction. Empirical induction in the JSM-reasoning is the basis for generation of hy- potheses on causal relations (determinants of social behaviour). Inference by analogy means that predictions about previously unknown properties of objects (individual’s behaviour) are inferred from causal relations. Ab- ductive inference is performed to check on the explanatory adequacy of generated hypotheses. To recognize rationality of respondents’ opinion de- ductive inference is used. Plausible reasoning, semantics of argumentation logic and deductive recognition of opinion rationality represent logical tool for cognitive sociology problems.