
Machine Discovery
Reprinted from Foundations of Science Volume 1, No. 2, 1995/96
Jan Zytkow(Editor)
Springer (Publisher)
Published on 1. December 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
IV, 148 pages
978-90-481-4793-9 (ISBN)
Description
Human and machine discovery are gradual problem-solving processes of searching large problem spaces for incompletely defined goal objects. Research on problem solving has usually focused on searching an `instance space' (empirical exploration) and a `hypothesis space' (generation of theories). In scientific discovery, searching must often extend to other spaces as well: spaces of possible problems, of new or improved scientific instruments, of new problem representations, of new concepts, and others. This book focuses especially on the processes for finding new problem representations and new concepts, which are relatively new domains for research on discovery.
Scientific discovery has usually been studied as an activity of individual investigators, but these individuals are positioned in a larger social structure of science, being linked by the `blackboard' of open publication (as well as by direct collaboration). Even while an investigator is working alone, the process is strongly influenced by knowledge and skills stored in memory as a result of previous social interactions. In this sense, all research on discovery, including the investigations on individual processes discussed in this book, is social psychology, or even sociology.
Scientific discovery has usually been studied as an activity of individual investigators, but these individuals are positioned in a larger social structure of science, being linked by the `blackboard' of open publication (as well as by direct collaboration). Even while an investigator is working alone, the process is strongly influenced by knowledge and skills stored in memory as a result of previous social interactions. In this sense, all research on discovery, including the investigations on individual processes discussed in this book, is social psychology, or even sociology.
More details
Edition
Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 1997
Language
English
Place of publication
Dordrecht
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Illustrations
IV, 148 p.
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 210 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
398 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-481-4793-9 (9789048147939)
DOI
10.1007/978-94-017-2124-0
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
02/1997
Kluwer Academic Publishers
€53.49
Shipment within 15-20 days
Content
Machine Discovery.- Machine Discovery.- Comments.- Machine Discovery: Replay to Comments.- The Process of Discovery.- Creating a Discoverer: Autonomous Knowledge Seeking Agent.- Varia.- Are Dinosaurus Extinct?.- Poincaré's Conventionalism and the Logical Positivists.- Biographical Notes.- Some facts on AFOS.