stro@rochester.ARPA (Steve Robiner) (05/24/87)
Here's a good philosophical topic re: science. Why is it that so many great inventions and discoveries in science have come about by accident? Any ideas? =Steve=
walton@tybalt.caltech.edu (Steve Walton) (05/24/87)
In article <28044@rochester.ARPA> stro@rochester.UUCP (Steve Robiner (for Brown)) writes: >Here's a good philosophical topic re: science. > >Why is it that so many great inventions and discoveries in science have >come about by accident? Any ideas? They haven't. At least in physics and astronomy, they were all the product of hard work and an ability to make out the forest despite the trees--that is, to discard what was unimportant. Perhaps a bit of *luck* was involved in being first to enumerate a new idea, but that's far different from an "accident." Steve Walton, guest as walton@tybalt.caltech.edu AMETEK Computer Research Division, ametek!walton@csvax.caltech.edu "Long signatures are definitely frowned upon"--USENET posting rules