Synonyms
Discover: Observe, Find, Unveil; Invent: Devise, Create, Innovate
The concept of discovery indicates the process of finding something that exists but that is not known or recognized yet. The concept of invention, on the other hand, indicates the process of devising something that does not exist.
The two concepts of discovery and invention form a dichotomy that portrays a central tension in epistemology. They highlight two different angles from which one can look at the relation between theory and experience.
Introduction
The relation between theory and experience has always been an issue of paramount importance in both philosophy and science. The first modern stand on this issue traces back to Francis Bacon, the father of the experimental method. According to Bacon, scientific theories are obtained directly by induction from observation: Scientific theories exist in nature and scientists limit themselves to discover them through observation. According to Bacon, science is a...
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Piscopo, C., Birattari, M. (2013). Invention Versus Discovery. In: Carayannis, E.G. (eds) Encyclopedia of Creativity, Invention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3858-8_402
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