Print Email Facebook Twitter On serendipity in science: discovery at the intersection of chance and wisdom Title On serendipity in science: discovery at the intersection of chance and wisdom Author Copeland, S.M. (TU Delft Ethics & Philosophy of Technology) Date 2019 Abstract ‘Serendipity’ is a category used to describe discoveries in science that occur at the intersection of chance and wisdom. In this paper, I argue for understanding serendipity in science as an emergent property of scientific discovery, describing an oblique relationship between the outcome of a discovery process and the intentions that drove it forward. The recognition of serendipity is correlated with an acknowledgment of the limits of expectations about potential sources of knowledge. I provide an analysis of serendipity in science as a defense of this definition and its implications, drawing from theoretical and empirical research on experiences of serendipity as they occur in science and elsewhere. I focus on three interrelated features of serendipity in science. First, there are variations of serendipity. The process of serendipitous discovery can be complex. Second, a valuable outcome must be obtained before reflection upon the significance of the unexpected observation or event in respect to that outcome can take place. Therefore, serendipity is retrospectively categorized. Third, the primacy of epistemic expectations is elucidated. Finally, I place this analysis within discussions in philosophy of science regarding the impact of interpersonal competition upon the number and significance of scientific discoveries. Thus, the analysis of serendipity offered in this paper contributes to discussions about the social-epistemological aspects of scientific discovery and has normative implications for the structure of epistemically effective scientific communities. Subject ChanceScientific discoverySerendipitySocial-epistemology of science To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1fc35dd6-2d88-4c89-a0c1-22e42ec74f47 DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-017-1544-3 ISSN 0039-7857 Source Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science, 196 (6), 2385-2406 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2019 S.M. Copeland Files PDF SCopeland_On_Serendipity_ ... tprint.pdf 391.81 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:1fc35dd6-2d88-4c89-a0c1-22e42ec74f47/datastream/OBJ/view