Definitions

“Independent execution” and “simultaneous discoveries” refers to the phenomenon where multiple individuals or groups, working separately, come up with the same scientific discovery or invention at roughly the same time, essentially making the breakthrough happen independently and almost simultaneously; classic examples exist in mathematics, astronomy, genetics, geology, physics, engineering, art, and more.

Guiding Quote

“Rather than being the products of the individual mind, multiples (aka – simultaneous discoveries) are said to prove that creative ideas are the effects of the zeitgeist, or spirit of the times. At a specific instant in the history of a domain, the time becomes ripe for a given idea. The idea is ‘in the air’ for anyone to pick, making its inception inevitable.” – Dean Keith Simonton, PhD (interested in the study of human intelligence and creativity)

The history of human creativity is filled with fascinating coincidences and fierce rivalries. Throughout time, inventors, scientists, and thinkers of all kinds have made groundbreaking discoveries simultaneously, often without knowledge of each other’s work. Equally intriguing are the stories of competition that have shaped the development of entire fields, from the race to develop calculus to the battle for the discovery of electricity. These moments reveal not only the power of individual genius but also the collective drive that propels innovation forward.

When I discuss historical stories around this topic, I use relevant themes students can connect to their own creativity. I break it down into:

  • Stories of Competition and Rivalry Sir Isaac Newton vs. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for calculus,  Edison vs. Tesla in the “war of the currents,” and the “bone (aka fossil) wars” of Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh.
  • Stories With Lessons For the Perfectionist Have you heard of Elisha Gray? Probably not. He showed up at the same patent office two hours after Alexander Graham Bell to pursue a patent for the same invention. There are numerous people lost to history who lost out while “perfecting” their theories, discoveries, etc. William Lassell vs. George Bond regarding observations of Saturn is a story that also fits this theme.
  • Stories With Lessons For Patience People who needed to refine their theories for decades or face enormous criticism. For example, Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace.

Simultaneous Discoveries Continued

1822: J. Goss and A. Seton (the segregation of pea hybrids)

1865: Mendel (genetic laws). 1900: Correns, Tschermak, and Vries (The zeitgeist was clearly not ready for mover and shaker Mendel)

1865: F. Schweigger-Seidel and A. von la Valette St. George (the idea of a single cell containing cytoplasm and a nucleus)

1875: Flemming, 1876: Beneden (centrosome in the ovum)

1884-1885: Strasburger, Kolliker, Hertwig, and A. Weismann (inheritance based on cell’s nucleus)

1887: Benden and T. Boveri (mitosis doesn’t destroy centrosomes)

1890: L. Guignard and T. Boveri (maternal and paternal chromosomes are contributed equally at fertilization)

1899: Strasburger and L. Cuenot (sex is controlled by cells and not the environment)

1899: Korchinsky, 1901: Hugo de Vries (mutations)

1946: Purcell, Pound, and Torey at Harvard vs. Hansen, Packard and Block at Stanford (nuclear magnetic resonance)

In conclusion, simultaneous discoveries appear to be an inevitable part of human progress. As we’ve seen throughout history, when the time is right and the necessary conditions align, multiple individuals or groups often arrive at the same breakthroughs independently. This underscores the idea that creativity and innovation are not only shaped by individual brilliance but also by the collective momentum of human knowledge and curiosity. Whether through competition or coincidence, these parallel discoveries drive progress and highlight the interconnectedness of our shared intellectual journey.

Optional Activity

Research (Google the topic + simultaneous invention/discovery as key words)

  • The Pelton water wheel
  • The periodic law of elements
  • Einstein vs. Hilbert regarding the general theory of relativity
  • The James-Lange theory of emotion (splitting the credit – imagine that!) 
  • The Bone (aka fossil) Wars of Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles
  • Audie and Rudolf Dassler (Puma and Adidas shoes)
  • Hilma af Klint vs. Kandinsky (Art)
  • The Frisbee

Go Deeper

Book that inspired this lesson – Origins of Genius: Darwinian Perspectives on Creativity by Dean Keith Simonton, PhD

Crash Course Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKGPOwR-iw

Here’s a Seth Godin Podcast on this topic:https://player.fm/series/akimbo-a-podcast-from-seth-godin-2721240/simultaneous-invention

Here’s a Malcolm Gladwell article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/05/12/in-the-air

Posted in Philosophy and Psychology, The Science of Expertise
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