Re: virus: Discoveries and Inventions

Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Mon, 3 Feb 97 16:52:47 -0500

>>An invention is a creation, a thing which was not before.
>>
>>A discovery is a find, or a description, of that which is.
>>
>>An invention is not discovered, nor a discovery invented, unless you're
>>talking about cold fusion.... ;-)
>
>How about the electron...was it discovered or invented? It seems to me
>that your answer depends on how you define "electron". In one sense, the
>particle was "discovered" in that it was found as part of reality and is a
>description of "what is".

All aspects of reality are discovered. But in some senses, the usage
(within a context) of the electron is invented, since any model is an
invention.

Semantic/jargonical relativism aside (as difficult as it is for many
members of this forum to do that...) we discover as much as we can. The
more we discover the more we know, the more sheer information we have to
work with. This may lead to more discoveries, or even an invention or
two. This is a good thing.

I think it is important to discover, it is something we humans do
exceedingly well....

We can then create something undiscoverable- a technology, or an art.

It's what we do.

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