Anatomy of the Unsought Finding. Serendipity: Orgin, History, Domains, Traditions, Appearances, Patterns and Programmability

Abstract

I define serendipity as the art of making an unsought finding. And I propose an overview of my collection of serendipities, the largest yet assembled, chiefly in science and technology, but also in art, by giving a list of ‘serendipity patterns’. Although my list of ‘patterns’ is just a list and not a classification, it serves to introduce a new and possibly stimulating perspective on the old subject of serendipity. Knowledge of these ‘serendipity patterns’ might help in expecting also the unexpected and in finding also the unsought.

Cite this

Pek van Andel (1994). Anatomy of the Unsought Finding. Serendipity: Orgin, History, Domains, Traditions, Appearances, Patterns and Programmability. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/45.2.631

@article{van1994anatomy,
  title  = {Anatomy of the Unsought Finding. Serendipity: Orgin, History, Domains, Traditions, Appearances, Patterns and Programmability},
  author = {Andel, Pek van},
  year   = {1994},
  journal = {The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science},
  doi    = {10.1093/bjps/45.2.631}
}

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