Research

Research is both the collection of knowledge and its creation – one begins by assembling information, and in so doing one adds to the known.

Scientific method dictates, presumably, that the collection is done systematically. But regardless of one’s best intentions, there will always be a residual element of chance: one cannot anticipate where one will stumble upon a relevant piece of information, and as a rule the best pieces are stumbled upon in places where one does not even think of looking. Otherwise, one would not be stumbling.

And thus the collection of knowledge is lined with contingency.