Discovery - Part 4

Apples and Apple Tree in the Garden with Bird Houses

In previous postings I discussed discussed discovery, discussing Lewis and Clark’s arduous journey to the Pacific Coast, and seafaring explorers who encountered great hardships and made great discoveries. I discussed how discovery is often shared, representing the entirety of the experience, not just the beginning, end or one individual. I discussed how the small things in life can be discoveries too, so that scale is not necessary to define a discovery. Moreover, I’ll reiterate that many small discoveries together can make as big an impact just as one big one.

Discoveries encompass the mental as well as the physical sphere.

Three Spokane, Washington city convention workers walking down the street discover a knapsack placed on a bench. There is a parade honoring Martin Luther King, Jr shortly. Their situational awareness leads them to recognize that wires sticking out of a backpack has the signature of a potential bomb. They report this discovery to authorities and a potential terrorist act is stopped. This MSNBC video describes the incident. This discovery brings a number of facets of understanding together to recognize one risk.

Discovery dots the stream of time with significant milestones in fields of science as we learn more about everything from the cellular level to the far reaches of outer space, with disciplines ranging from molecular biology to astrophysics.

Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity is case of consolidating information from disparate sources. From Stukeley’s Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's Life (Wikipedia article) comes the following excerpt:

“....the notion of gravitation came into his mind. It was occasioned by the fall of an apple, as he sat in contemplative mood. Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself.”

This is the creative process at work, associating a tree, an apple, and the apple’s actions (falling to the ground) in an inquisitive, thought-directed process that results in a discovery. It is the essence of consolidating disparate information and coming up with that “ah-ha moment”.

Thus discovery can involve using the mind to uncover a risk or to intuit a reward, a breakthrough in knowledge that opens new frontiers or rescues others.

Discovery - Part 3

I discussed the concept of discovery in my first and second blog postings on the subject. I continue the concept in this posting further discussing discovery and the seafaring world.

As with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, we often associate discovery with discovering new territory, or, new worlds. A ship. An exploration. A discovery.

Hawaiian Chieftain under sail, Westport, Washington

The Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington sail out of Grays Harbor’s Historical Seaport Authority, Westport, Washington providing living history experiences on tall ships.

The concept of discovery brings about the dissolution of old paradigms and the crowning of new ones. A two dimensional world becomes three dimensional with curved horizons. Discovery brings about promises of renewal in the new world.

Some explorers claim discovery, while others shipwreck on the shores of hope and dreams.

Wreck of the Peter Iredale, Fort Stevens, Warrenton, Oregon

Image on Alamy

Perhaps some think that discovery is only the end point, however discovery is a process, encompassing the start, the finish, and the path in between. Indeed, the process of discovery also reflects the efforts of all that quest as one effort builds on the next. It is a continuing process of shared progress.

Next blog posting I’ll venture into discovery and cognitive processes.

Discovery

Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis, Missouri

Image at Alamy

The Gateway Arch, designed by Archictect Eero Saarinen is a catenary arch built on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in westward expansion and to Dred Scott’s role in obtaining freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Commissioned by President Jefferson as the Corps of Discovery, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was led by Merriweather Lewis and William Clark. The intent was to find a serviceable route to the Pacific Coast for commerce and for territorial advantage as well.

The arch is a symbol of discovery, of exploration. It symbolizes not just the discoveries of our ancestors but also serves as a conceptual beacon to guide and inspire us as we pursue discoveries that may help ourselves and civilization to advance.

I’ll discuss concepts of discovery further in my next blog posting.