Does anyone know what that idea or "law" is called?

[DWW]

I'm trying to remember the idea or "law" that someone coined that says if someone hadn't discovered or invented something it would have eventually been found.

Being if Einstein never existed his discoveries and theories would eventually (later than sooner of course) be found by someone else.

 

[ElFenix]

sounds like a structural theory of history...

 

[DigDug]

Whatever it is, it is diametrically opposed to the consensual Kuhnian understanding of science.

 

[DWW]

Kuhnian is another wavelength than what I am talking about. His ideas seem to be based more around the process and order on which theories build (I've not read his works so correct me if I am wrong). I meant to specify more on discoveries (as in truths of the universe). You can't change something like that. Theories may differ (and as they play off each other that would alter the course of understanding the universe) but truths cannot, right? In that respect, someone else would eventually discover it (monkey typewriter).

 

[DigDug]

Kuhn posits that what we discover is a product of our direction. There is no inevitability of science. The computer exists because of our desire to win wars. It's an EXCELLENT book. You should read it. Basically pulls the "hard" off of hard science.

 

[klah]

In U.S. criminal law we have the Inevitable Discovery Exception to the Exclusionary Rule.

 

[DigDug]

haha! just studied that for my crim pro exam. That was the companion case to Brewer, where they wanted to admit the body into evidence even though it was found with that dude's inadmissible confession....right?