What Data Can't See
You're in a meeting. Something doesn't fit. While others see the data and nod, you sense a missed pattern.
How do you explain a feeling?
Most of us learned two ways of thinking:
- Deductive logic (if A=B and B=C, then A=C)
- Inductive logic (we've seen this before, so it will happen again)
But neither explains how new ideas develop.
Enter what philosopher Charles Peirce called "the third logic" — the art of noticing what could be true before proving it.
Think of a detective...
They don't solve cases by pure logic.
They notice odd small details.
They follow instincts.
They test theories.
Sometimes they're wrong.
But when they're right, they crack the case.
The Pattern of Innovation
Steve Jobs sensed people would want to interact with their screens.
Reed Hastings noticed the public's dislike for late fees.
Sara Blakely saw an opportunity in cut-off pantyhose.
None could prove their ideas would work initially. They noticed patterns others overlooked.
Why This Matters
The world is getting more complex. Data is everywhere. Computers handle the clear patterns.
But.
The biggest opportunities hide in the spaces between — where pure logic can't reach.
Improving at the Third Logic
Start small:
- Notice what bothers you
- Pay attention to things that seem out of place
- Write down your instincts
- Test small experiments
- Study patterns across fields
The key is balance:
Don't ignore your instincts.
Don't bet everything on them.
Instead, use them as starting points for exploration.
Next time you notice something that doesn't make sense, don't rush to explain it away.
Sit with it.
Ask "what if?"
Let your mind explore options.
That quiet nudge? That sense something could change?
That's where breakthroughs start.