For all it's worth, the development of the atomic bomb is an often-made comparison http://www.mail-archive.com/singularity@v2.listbox.com/msg00585.html , as is the invention of powered heavier-than-air flight.
Historiographers of science have various theories, among them Kuhn's idea of 'paradigm shift' http://www.mail-archive.com/singularity@v2.listbox.com/msg00553.html Joshua 2007/5/18, Mark H. Herman <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >:
I imagine the following may have already been considered, nevertheless: It would seem constructive to undertake an analysis of breakthroughs in various fields (e.g. engineering, art, chemistry) to search for patterns that might be replicable. A general example of what I mean by a "pattern" would be, "thesis, antithesis, synthesis." Examples of patterns that such an analysis might uncover could include patterns of formal logic, the novel application in one field of a structure established in another field, the retrieval of insights from historical theories or practices that were once competitive, but were found inadequate and long forgotten, etc. An analysis of such patterns and the identification of meta-patterns would seem to require broad familiarity with the various disciplines in which the breakthroughs occurred; however, the work of identifying the patterns of specific breakthroughs, which might require extensive and deep knowledge in the respective fields, could be divided amongst various experts of various fields. Perhaps something like this would be worth adding to the agenda of the AI Impact Initiative or some similar interdisciplinary body. -Mark ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?&;
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