SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY WITH LAW-ENCODING DIAGRAMS

This article introduces the concept of law-encoding diagrams (LEDs) an d presents the argument that they have had a role in scientific discov ery that has not been previously recognized. An LED is a representatio n that correctly encodes the underlying relations of a law, or a syste m of simultaneous laws, in the structure Of a diagram by the means of geometric, topological, and spatial constraints, such that the instant iation of a particular diagram represents a single instance of the phe nomena or a particular case of the law(s). Examples of LEDs in the his tory of science are discussed, and the benefits of using LEDs in disco very are considered. LEDs are distinguished from other forms of diagra mmatic representation. Previous work on the computational modeling of diagrammatic law induction is reinterpreted in terms of the search for diagrammatic constraints of LEDs. A general characterization of the r ole of LEDs in discovery is considered, and a framework for classifyin g processes of discovery based on LEDs is proposed.