Going from a diverse collection of observed facts to an hypothesis which combines then under a single principle or motive is called abduction, a useful and therefore ubiquitous process. Meta-abduction would be to go from a set of experienced abductions, or simply cognitions, to that which underlies or unifies them, what makes them possible and gives them their knowledge-like character. The usefulness of this is less evident, in fact it may be dispensed with and all of your energy be given over to the creativity of abductions. There is no motive for this second kind of backwards leap, and yet once you have sensed its urgency you cannot let it go.