Why read Patterns of Discovery?

Book cover of Patterns of Discovery: an Inquiry Into the Conceptual Foundations of Science

Book description

Philosophers of science have given considerable attention to the logic of completed scientific systems. In this 1958 book, Professor Hanson turns to an equally important but comparatively neglected subject, the philosophical aspects of research and discovery. He shows that there is a logical pattern in finding theories as much as…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Patterns of Discovery as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

James Blachowicz

Author

Hanson’s book was received as a breath of fresh air–establishing the important distinction between what came to be called the “context of discovery” and the “context of justification.”

While the former was often relegated to the psychological phenomenon of the “aha” moment of insight, leaving the logic to the justifications of reasoning, Hanson’s treatment made philosophers of science think twice about the “intelligence” and the importance of these often spontaneous insights.

From James' list on The best books about the logic of scientific discovery.