Stigler's law of eponymy

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No discovery is named after its original discoverer.

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In context

This law belongs with Murphy's Laws, where small assumptions, timing, and system complexity tend to turn into memorable failures.

Editorial note

Scientific ideas and discoveries are often named after someone other than the earliest contributor.

Practical example: A project checks primary history rather than assuming an eponym identifies the original discoverer.

Reviewed ยท Stigler paper overview

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