Books Quote by Peter Landin
“Most papers in computer science describe how their author learned what someone else already knew.”
About This Quote
Source Article: 1966, "The Mechanical Evaluation of Expressions", Communications of the ACM
It critiques that many CS papers merely restate known knowledge rather than advancing new ideas.
In simple terms: Papers often repeat existing knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek originality in research.
Themes
originality
knowledge
research
academia
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
academic
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- literature surveys
- grant proposals
- conference presentations
Key Concepts
epistemology
innovation
literature review
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure your work adds new insight?
- What value does synthesis have?
A Different Perspective
May overlook incremental improvements that are valuable.
