Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America? Options

[panaginip13]

Okay, so I searched for a topic on this, and couldn't find one so I decided to make one. If there is a topic on this, feel free to close this and smack me upside the head for my inability to find things.

Columbus is often known as the discoverer of America. He came across America during his exploration and shared his discovery with Europe. This caused more Europeans to explore and settle in America, helping make America what it is today. However, some do not think that Columbus discovered America because of the Vikings and Native Americans that were there before him and for many other reasons.

Should Columbus be the one credited for discovering America? If not, who should be?

[sadolakced acid]

hmm...

my definiton of discovery:

1. looking for something, and thinking you didn't find it, but really finding it.
2. looking for something, finding something else, and knowing it's something else.
3. looking for something, finding something, and knowing it's something.
4. looking at someone else find something, know it's not what they say it is, and say what it is.

did columbus do any of those?

[Spirited Away]

hmm...

my definiton of discovery:

1. looking for something, and thinking you didn't find it, but really finding it.
2. looking for something, finding something else, and knowing it's something else.
3. looking for something, finding something, and knowing it's something. 
4. looking at someone else find something, know it's not what they say it is, and say what it is.

did columbus do any of those?

Mr. Acid, let me ask you one last time, do you really think that every discovery ever made in history was by intent? Just answer that. Yes, I say the right word to use is still discovery. Your definition of discovery is rather limitted. We both know you're too intelligent to answer "yes" to my question. If you say no, then you'd have to discredit all those other "fools" who discovered things by accident and received credit.


Let me elaborate on the usage of the word discovery. A person can say that a child discovered that dogs are four-legged animals, but not all four-legged animals are dogs, and he/she wouldn't be wrong. It's correct by definition. The child wouldn't know what to call the dog until later on in his/her life, but we can undoutedly say that he/she discovered what to call them later.

In this case, Columbus didn't know what he discovered until it's too late. That doesn't mean that we can't use the word discovered to describe the fact that he 'uncovered' the New World for Europe.

This post has been edited by uninspiredfae: May 4 2005, 10:36 PM

[rOckThISshYt]

Mr. Acid, let me ask you one last time, do you really think that every discovery ever made in history was by intent? Just answer that. Yes, I say the right word to use is still discovery. Your definition of discovery is rather limitted. We both know you're too intelligent to answer "yes" to my question. If you say no, then you'd have to discredit all those other "fools" who discovered things by accident and received credit.
Let me elaborate on the usage of the word discovery. A person can say that a child discovered that dogs are four-legged animals, but not all four-legged animals are dogs, and he/she wouldn't be wrong. It's correct by definition. The child wouldn't know what to call the dog until later on in his/her life, but we can undoutedly say that he/she discovered what to call them later.

In this case, Columbus didn't know what he discovered until it's too late. That doesn't mean that we can't use the word discovered to describe the fact that  he 'uncovered' the New World for Europe.

It's really hard. I duno... I think discovering can mean multiple different things. Pretty much finding something. Either by intent or not. I believe there are branches of discovery, though. People who were the first to discover the land (in our case, the Vikings) or the people who made it what it is today (in our case, Christopher Columbus). I'm sure there are many other different ways to put it but those are the two easiest, I guess. There's a difference between land and country. The Vikings were the first to discover the land of North America (at least that I know of) but Christopher Columbus could be considered United States of America's true founding father because if it wasn't for him, discovery would have been held off till much later and maybe never be colonized by the Enlish - therefore making it what it is today. Sorry if that was confusing. I'll elaborate if requsted.