Timeline: Philosophy Of Science

Jul 18, 1922

Thomas Kuhn

Thomas Samuel Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. July 18, 1922. His family moved to New York when he was just a few months old where he went eventually studied at a private school for the next few years.

1940

Accepted to Harvard

Kuhn got accepted to Harvard, he chose Physics over Mathematics as his major. Due to America's WWII, Thomas graduated early with BS in Physics with highest honors in 1943. Famous Scientists. “Thomas Kuhn - Biography, Facts and Pictures.” Famous Scientists, 16 Aug. 2018, www.famousscientists.org/thomas-kuhn.

1943

WW2

In 1993, Thomas joined the Radio Research Laboratory’s theoretical group and his group was tasked with devising countermeasures against enemy radar. After the war, he decided to go back to Harvard and get his graduates degree. “Kuhn, Thomas S. | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Kuhn, iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

1948

Following Years

In the next few years, Thomas Kuhn began teaching general courses at Harvard. This is where he realized he really enjoyed teaching History of Science courses that look at the development of mechanics from Aristotle to Newton.

1953

Moving on from Harvard

In 1953, Kuhn accepted an offer from the University of California at Berkley where he was part of the Philosophy and History departments. In 1961, he was promoted to full professor of History of Science at Berkley. “Kuhn, Thomas S. | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Kuhn, iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

1957

The Copernican Revolution

In 1957, Kuhn writes "The Copernican Revolution" where he studied Copernicus' heliocentric theory. Kuhn, Thomas. Copernican Revolution Planetary Astronom. VINTAGE (DIV OF RANDOM HOUSE), 2022.

1962

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

In 1962 Thomas Kuhn published his book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions where the Paradigm Shift was first introduced. "Paradigm" or "Paradigm shift" is a change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline which leads to the beginning of the new period of normal science.
This book itself created its own Paradigm Shift and allowed for more scientific theories to be created.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L70T4pQv7P8

Period: 1964 to 1979

Princeton

In 1964, Kuhn moved to Princeton University as Professor of Philosophy and History of Science. Then in 1979, he moved to MIT as Professor of Philosophy.