Cha-Cha-Cha Theory of Scientific Discovery

Science has published an elegant posthumous article by Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. entitled The Cha-Cha-Cha Theory of Scientific Discovery … representing the 3 categories of discovery: Charge, Challenge, and Chance. In brief:

“‘Charge’ discoveries solve problems that are quite obvious … ‘Challenge’ discoveries are a response to an accumulation of facts or concepts that are unexplained by or incongruous with scientific theories of the time … ‘Chance’ discoveries are those that are often called serendipitous and which Louis Pasteur felt favored ‘the prepared mind.'”

I especially like the image of the “prepared mind”, which recognizes meaning even in “failed” experiments rather than demanding a home-run each time out.

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1 Comment »

  1. […] 13th, 2007 Writedit notes: Science has published an elegant posthumous article by Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. entitled The […]

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