Dear Birger,
The word ¡§discover¡¨ does not mean that something is hidden. In the case of fire and wind, it may mean ¡§to find out what one did not previously know¡¨
In the case of fire and wind, pre-humans and early human beings were certainly aware of the natural phenomena of fire and wind, but they had to ¡§discover¡¨ their uses in the sense that they had to learn what they did not previously know. First, they had to discover the uses of fire and wind. Then they had to discover how to control the use fire and wind, as well as to generate fire.
Human history shows the discovery of many phenomena that were never hidden. Galileo rolled balls on inclined planes to demonstrate principles about acceleration. Aristotle and Archimedes both had inclined planes and balls ¡V clearly nature did not change, yet Galileo learned and described what Aristotle or Archimedes could have done and did not do.
I¡¦m not criticizing Aristotle or Archimedes ¡V I¡¦m simply demonstrating how human beings have discovered what was not hidden.
Merriam-Webster¡¦s shows a wide range of meanings and possibilities: ¡§transitive verb - 1 a: to make known or visible : EXPOSE<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=expose> b: archaic: DISPLAY<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=display>. 2 a: to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time : FIND<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=find> <¡ã the solution> b: FIND OUT<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=find%20out> <¡ãed he was out of gas>. intransitive verb - to make a discovery. - synonyms DISCOVER<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=discover>, ASCERTAIN<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=ascertain>, DETERMINE<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=determine>, UNEARTH<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=unearth>, LEARN<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=learn>, mean to find out what one did not previously know. DISCOVER<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=discover>, may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter <discovered the source of the river>. ASCERTAIN<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=ascertain>, implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty <attempts to ascertain the population of the region>. DETERMINE<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=determine>, emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely <unable to determine the origin of the word>. UNEARTH<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=unearth>, implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden <unearth old records>. LEARN<http://www.britannica.com/bps/dictionary?query=learn> may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice <I learned her name only today> <learning Greek>.
Yours,
Ken
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | University Distinguished Professor | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia | [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | Mobile +61 404 830 462 | Home Page http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/people/Professor-Ken-Friedman-ID22.html<http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design> Academia Page http://swinburne.academia.edu/KenFriedman About Me Page http://about.me/ken_friedman
Guest Professor | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University | Shanghai, China
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Birger Sevaldson wrote:
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Doesnt discovering something mean that this something needs initially to be hidden? I dont think that the term discovery in relation to fire is right in any way. Fire was always a part of nature like wind. Man did not discover wind though they designed ways of using it....
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