ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that scientific research begins with opportunity, and discusses upon that view and the other two views which supports question and observation. It describes the significant differences between this view and the other two views and their significance. The chapter presents some historical and practical cases to supports the view that ‘scientific research begins with opportunity’. It shows how this view could cover and integrate possible logical positions and practical positions of the other two views, thus promoting a more coherent, historical, and diversified view for philosophy of scientific practice. ‘Scientific research begins with observation’ is equivalent to ‘scientific research begins with the observation permeated by theory’, and is equivalent to ‘scientific research begins with theory’. Observation, question and opportunity together form a chain of the starting point of scientific research, forming a practically hermeneutic cycle of scientific research.
